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For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
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Photo#3975
Tarantula Hawk - Pepsis thisbe - female

Tarantula Hawk - Pepsis thisbe - Female
Desert Botanical Garden, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
May 23, 2004
Size: circa 40 mm
Feeding on Desert Milkweed, Asclepias subulata. Females of this species were very large, about 40 mm body length, and are identified by the curly antennae. In the male these are more straight. There were several individuals buzzing around the milkweed, and I could not keep individual insects straight, therefore these are all posted as unlinked images. Another individual in close proximity:



Comments indicate this is likely Pepsis thisbe or Pepsis formosa. Perhaps the newly-posted larger photos will help.

Moved
Moved from Tarantula Hawks.

species
This is probably Pepsis thisbe, though it could also be P. formosa. It is difficult to tell, but P. formosa has more hair on the legs.

 
Larger photos of help?
Thanks for your comments, from quite some time ago. (I had notifications turned off on this photo for some reason, and only recently saw your note.) I have posted individual, larger photos of the Pepsis observed that day, perhaps these will be of help in determining the species. Any help will be much appreciated.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina