Tarantula Hawk vs Monkey Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tarantula Hawk | Monkey Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pepsis grossa | Hopliini scolioides |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Pompilidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 40-65 mm | 8-15 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | North America, South America | Africa |
| 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.
Monkey Beetle
A hairy scarab beetle that pollinates flowers in South African fynbos.
Did You Know?
Dense body hairs collect pollen as it crawls inside daisy flowers.