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Genus Hemipepsis - Tarantula-hawk Wasps
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Pompiloidea (Spider Wasps, Velvet Ants and allies)
Family Pompilidae (Spider Wasps)
Subfamily Pepsinae
Tribe Pepsini (Tarantula-hawk Wasps and Allies)
Genus Hemipepsis (Tarantula-hawk Wasps)
Other Common Names Tarantula Wasps Numbers 3 spp. in our area (one divided into 2 sspp.): (1)(2)
3. Hemipepsis ustulata: AZ, CA, CO, KS, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT Size Forewing length 11-27 mm (2), body length somewhat longer (and appearing longer yet when taking into account the long legs and antennae). Identification Hemipepsis are quite similar looking to Pepsis and Entypus, but distinguishable if clearly resolved images of wing venation are available. For details, see the posts thumbnailed below as well as comments by Nick Fensler under this post.
Species are keyed on pp. 33-34 of Townes (1957). (2)Range e. Texas, north to Kansas, west to California. H. mexicana and H. toussainti are more restricted in range than H. ustulata. Habitat On the ground in arid or semi-arid habitats. Males guard perches on the tops of shrubs. Both sexes are found at flowers. Season June-September in the northern part of the range. Can be found nearly year-round in the southern part of the range. Food Females provision with Theraphosids. Both sexes are found on flowers, especially milkweed. Life Cycle Usually a single generation per year; perhaps a second in the extreme southern part of the range. Remarks Both Hemipepsis and Pepsis are called "Tarantula Hawks." The genera are difficult to distinguish in the field and have very similar life histories. See account for Pepsis.Print References Milne has photo of Hemipepsis sp.--#458, describes, p. 839. (3)Internet References Univ. Calif. Riverside Insect FAQ--describes biology of Pepsis and Hemipepsis as identical, says genera difficult to distinguish (based on wing venation). Works Cited | 1. | Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico
Karl V. Krombein, Paul D. Hurd, Jr., David R. Smith, and B. D. Burks. 1979. Smithsonian Institution Press. | |
| 2. | Nearctic Wasps of the Subfamilies Pepsinae and Ceropalinae
Henry K. Townes. 1957. Smithsonian Institute Press (Bulletin 209). | |
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