| Spiders are normally thought of by humans as | | | | barren ground or in tangled undergrowth searching |
| scary beasts that serve no other purpose than to | | | | for prey. As they walk, their wings flicker and |
| frighten the living daylights out of us. Well, ok, | | | | their antennae tap the ground. They often break |
| they control the fly and insect population as well I | | | | their restless walking with short flights. |
| suppose, but mostly they are just not much fun | | | | A spider wasp quickly subdues the spider it preys |
| to discover around the home or office. | | | | on. The wasp's sting affects the spider's central |
| But have you ever asked yourself, what are | | | | nervous system, paralyzing but not killing the |
| spiders themselves scared of? | | | | spider. Often the spider is too large to carry in |
| Well, I've got a few answers for you... | | | | flight and the wasp must drag it to the nest. |
| Because they are small, spiders have many | | | | Some species bite off the spider's legs to make it |
| enemies. | | | | easier to drag and may drink blood that leaks |
| Many of the larger animals hunt them for food. | | | | from the wounds. |
| Common examples being birds, toads & lizards. It | | | | The spider wasp places a single spider in each |
| is also true that monkeys will hunt and eat them | | | | nest, which is often constructed after catching |
| too. And they are also used as food by many of | | | | the prey. Some species specialize on trap-door |
| the smaller creatures in the world. | | | | spiders and tarantulas, using the spider's own |
| Ticks will attach themselves to a spider and eat | | | | burrow for a nest. The wasp lays an egg on the |
| away at it for a long time while the spider goes | | | | paralyzed spider, which is eventually eaten by the |
| about its business. | | | | wasp's larva. |
| But one of the spiders' worst enemies is the | | | | The tarantula hawk is a large, metallic blue-black |
| Spider Wasp. They will ruthlessly and very | | | | spider wasp, with violet or bright reddish-orange |
| effectively hunt down spiders and use them to | | | | wings. Tarantula hawks are often seen foraging |
| feed their young larvae. | | | | for nectar on milkweed flowers. These wasps |
| Spider wasps are found throughout most of the | | | | enter a tarantula's burrow and may risk death in a |
| world. There are about 290 species in the United | | | | fierce battle. The wasp usually wins even though |
| States and Canada and around 4200 worldwide. | | | | the tarantula has poisonous fangs and is much |
| Most spider wasps are black, metallic blue, or | | | | larger than the wasp. |
| reddish and measure from 1 to 5 cm (0.4 to 2.0 | | | | And let's not forget another most deadly of |
| in) long. | | | | spider predators... |
| The wings range from clear to smoky-gray or | | | | You and I. Yes we humans are also big enemies |
| bright red-orange in color. Their extraordinarily long | | | | of spiders. Besides stepping on them whenever |
| hind legs distinguish spider wasps from other | | | | we get the opportunity, the pesticides we use to |
| wasps. Spider wasps are usually seen walking on | | | | control other insects will usually kill spiders too. |