Tarantula Hawk??? - Calopompilus pyrrhomelas - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Spider Wasps, Velvet Ants and allies (Pompiloidea) » Spider Wasps (Pompilidae) » Pepsinae » Tarantula-hawk Wasps and Allies (Pepsini) » Calopompilus » Calopompilus pyrrhomelas

Photo#225538

Copyright © 2008 Phil Huntley-Franck

Tarantula Hawk??? - Calopompilus pyrrhomelas

Elkton, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
August 5, 2008
Size: 1 inch +

I've heard Tarantula Hawks aren't supposed to happen in my part of Oregon. Nevertheless, these guys (that to me look like them) have been endlessly searching the grass in my yard for spiders (I assume) for over a month now. They hardly ever sit still long enough to photograph, and as soon as you get close, they're off again. Most are about an inch long, but there are some that are real honkers - heavier bodied and perhaps an inch and a quarter in length.

I'd appreciate it if someone would set me straight with an ID on this wasp.

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Contributed by Phil Huntley-Franck on 15 September, 2008 - 9:08pm
Last updated 4 October, 2008 - 11:33pm

Farther north

Just saw one here in Portland. I'll try to attach a still, though it's not very good.
Hm; can't seem to get it to load the still.

… Ron West, 30 August, 2021 - 4:25pm

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You should crop the image to a rectangle

that is essentially 'just the wasp'. That should get the image small enough to upload. Also make sure it is a .jpg

… john and jane balaban, 30 August, 2021 - 4:55pm

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Sorta:-)

This is about as close as you can come to a Pepsis in Oregon. It is a specimen of Calopompilus pyrrhomelas. Pretty common, but not seen that often. They prey on foldingdoor spiders in the genus Antrodiaetus.

… Eric R. Eaton, 16 September, 2008 - 3:56pm

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Thank you Mr. Eaton!

Corvallis, Oregon
September 12, 2011

I just wanted to thank you for helping me ID the wasp I encountered today.

I took an insect biology class in college many years ago and learned about tarantula hawk wasps. I even saw one feeding on a thistle bloom when I lived in southern California.

Today, I had what appeared to be one take an uncomfortable interest in my lower and middle abdominal areas to the point that I was almost acting like a little girl trying to get it away from me. It approached me several times and at one time broke off and flew in to a spider web near ground level with a spider nearby. However it appeared almost intoxicated and fell to the concrete a few inches below. It then took off and became interested in me again. After some more little girl like moves on my part, I had to resort to get rough and swat it away with the palm of my hand. It saw it come back later, but I was in a different location.

What I found interesting is that I was wearing the same unwashed t-shirt and shorts that I had used while pressure-washing the exterior of my house a few days earlier. There were numerous spider webs and spiders that I sprayed away in the eves. It was very hot out and I did not mind too much that the back spray and drips landed on me. I wonder if I got some spider scent on me from this and that is why the wasp was interested?

… Cicindelid XR, 13 September, 2011 - 1:00am

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