8 Tarantula Hawk
Yes, this thing takes down freakin’ tarantulas! Oblivious to most, several species of wasps known as “tarantula hawks” live in deserts in the United States, and although they are the state insect of New Mexico, not many know that they’re a dangerous insect.
Compared to other wasps, tarantula hawks are rather robust as their bodies can measure up to two inches in length. The insects are metallic blue/back with wings that are either blue/black orange-ish or mahogany in colour, and they’re one of the few insects that have aposematic colouring which warns potential predators that they may not be a meal worth fighting for.
Luckily for them, there are only a few animals, such as roadrunners, that will attack their species and it’s part of the reason why they’re considered to be the predator in most situations. Like all members of their genus, they require a spider to serve as a host for their larvae and tarantulas are their preferred “nursery”. They “capture” the spiders by using their sting which is considered to be the most painful of any North American insect. The sting isn’t exactly lethal but it ranks high next to bees and ants as researchers have described it to be an electric shock that induces an immediate and excruciating pain that simply shuts down your ability to do anything.
