Tarantula Hawk vs Cone Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tarantula Hawk | Cone Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pepsis grossa | Dorymyrmex insanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 40-65 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Predators | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | North America, South America | Southern United States, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tarantula Hawk
A giant wasp that hunts tarantulas. The female paralyzes a tarantula with her sting, drags it to a burrow, and lays an egg on it — the larva eats the spider alive.
Did You Know?
The tarantula hawk has the second most painful sting of any insect — but the pain lasts only about 5 minutes. Scientists recommend just lying down and screaming.
Cone Ant
A fast-moving reddish-brown ant that builds distinctive cone-shaped crater nests in sandy soil. It is a common competitor with fire ants in open habitats of the southern United States.
Did You Know?
They are one of the few native ant species that can successfully compete with invasive fire ants for territory.