Unexpected Houseguest

[JRB]

Aye, that's a fine speciman. I'd have been tempted to keep it as a pet.

Arizona tarantulas are pretty laid-back, docile & shy. You have to really work at getting them PO'd before they'll bite you.

The only problem I have with Arizona tarantulas is the company they keep - the Tarantula Hawk!

This is the wasp from Hell & let me tell you, it looks the part. First, for a wasp it's big, about 2-inches (50 mm) long & has this sinister, irridecent metallic blue-black body, with reddish antennae & bright orange wings, with long legs with hooks at the end - just evil looking! And their stinger is about 1/3-inch (7 mm) long & it's considered among the most painful of any insect! It's listed near the top of the list in Schmidt Sting Pain Index.

They're called Tarantula Hawks because the female stuns a tarantula, lays her eggs on its back & when the young-uns hatch, they eat the tarantula. Lovely critters!

We've got plenty of tarantulas in Arizona & therefore, unfortunately, plenty of Tarantula Hawks!

You don't want to come across one of these!

Gotta agree. The spider is cute compared to the T-hawk. I came across one while hiking in the Grand Canyon. That thing made me want to run home to mommy. My bacpacking buddy lived in Tucson at the time and appeased me by telling me they weren't aggressive unless provoked. As you can guess, I decided not to provoke it.

[Archangel]

My bacpacking buddy lived in Tucson at the time and appeased me by telling me they weren't aggressive unless provoked. As you can guess, I decided not to provoke it.

Sounds like the Billy Conolly line: "ah relax, they only go after you if they smell fear."
"Of course, they can smell it, it's running down me leg."