Tarantula Hawk vs Japanese Giant Hornet
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tarantula Hawk | Japanese Giant Hornet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pepsis grossa | Vespa mandarinia japonica |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 40-65 mm | 35-55 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Forests |
| Diet | Predators | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | North America, South America | Asia |
| 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.
Japanese Giant Hornet
The largest hornet in the world, capable of destroying an entire honey bee colony in hours. A small group of 30 hornets can massacre 30,000 bees.
Did You Know?
Japanese honey bees defend against these hornets by swarming a scout and vibrating their muscles to cook it alive at 46°C.