Nature's Decomposers--MAGGOTS

Trigger Warning! If you are sensitive to images depicting maggots, or death please turn back now!

DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU! 

Maggots----Unsavory, disgusting, nauseating? Yes, perhaps.

Necessary? Absolutely!

Maggots are the larval stage of many types of fly species. Think, house flies, blow flies, flesh flies, etc....

 

 These soft-bodied larvae hatch from eggs laid in or around organic matter such as feces, carrion, garbage, and other vile material. Witnessing maggots in all their glory as they worm their way through garbage you forgot to put out for the trash, will turn anybody’s stomach. However, their lifecycle is important for environmental health.

Maggots do not eat by chewing, instead, they liquefy their food outside their bodies. They use a specialized mouth that allows them to scrape tissue and secrete powerful digestive enzymes onto it. Once the food dissolves into a nutrient-rich "liquid," they simply lap it up.

These decomposers work efficiently and quickly to break down organic matter into useful material that benefits soil health and plant growth. Not to mention it greatly helps remove the stinky stuff none of us want to smell. Along with the removal of the stench, their feeding habits greatly reduce the spread of disease. Although we can argue, several species of adult flies spread their fair share of diseases.

In about 5-10 days they will complete their lifecycle from egg, maggot to adult. Once they reach the adult stage, they quickly look for more nutrient rich organic matter, and the cycle starts all over. Because of their predictable lifecycles they are critical in the field of forensic science. Time of death of a corpse is often determined by which fly (or other insect) species are present at the time the body is located. Knowing when a body died helps aid law enforcement in apprehending the people responsible.

Maggots are also useful in the medical world. Sterilized medical grade maggots are sometimes utilized for cleaning up necrotic tissue as they only feed on dead or dying flesh, leaving healthy tissue alone. This is especially true if the wound in question is not responding to antibiotics. While this sounds off-putting to have a handful of wiggling maggots packed into a wound, the alternative is often much worse…. the loss of a limb.

 As we swat the nuisance flies away from our picnic, let’s take a moment to appreciate the lowly maggot that is keeping our world a little cleaner and safer.

 

The Many-Headed Slime Mold

 

THE BLOB....a 1950's classic horror film depicting a gelatinous blob from outer space that consumes everything in its path could have been inspired by a real living blob-like substance. After heavy rainfall, in a forest near you, this alien-like creature will eat its way through the woodlands leaving nothing in its wake. 

A few days ago I noticed a bright yellow growth near a dead ash tree in our yard. When I first spotted it, I thought it was dog vomit slime or something similar. After posting pictures to a Facebook page dedicated to slime molds, I had a positive ID in short order (Thank you Jan Thornbill)

Badhamia polycephala (formerly Physarum polycephalum), or Many-Headed Slime Mold is found throughout North America, South America, Europe and other places around the World. It is most common in the Eastern portion of NA. 

It is unclear how long slime molds have been present on planet Earth, some scientists estimate 600 million years and others say as long as one to two billion years, either way a REALLY REALLY LONG TIME!  Because of the nature of slime molds, there are very few fossil records that exist. However, they have had plenty of time to perfect their strategies and my guess is, very little has changed in their MO. 

There are thirty or so types of Badhamia slime molds and most are found in temperate or tropical environments. The genus name Badhamia is derived from Charles David Badham, a physician, naturalist and mushroom aficionado, who was well known for his studies on fungi. 

Like most slime molds they prefer habitats with moist, rich substrate and plenty of dead or decaying organic matter. Using special enzymes, called lytic enzymes they are able to break down the cellular structure of fungi, wood, and leaf litter, turning it into nutrient rich organic matter that benefits the soil, trees and plants growing in these ecosystems. 

Human activity all too often creates challenges for organisms, many of which have a lasting impact on the survival of some species. In the case of this particular protist (an organism with a cell that is not an animal, plant or fungus), human disturbances have assisted in its continued spread. Logging creates an abundance of fresh decaying wood which provides the perfect conditions for growth and fruiting. After heavy rains the spores become active and are visible, in what is called the plasmodia stage. During the plasmodial stage, or feeding stage, the bright yellow slime will appear vein-like in its structure as it seemingly reaches for anything nutritious in its path. 

These shape-shifting amoeba-like plasmodia travel at one millimeter per second (roughly ten feet an hour) in a rhythmic fashion, changing direction every minute and a half. They consume everything in their path. One of their favorites seems to be oyster mushrooms. Easily one of the most studied of the slime molds and reproduces well in petri dishes in laboratory settings. It was even suggested to me to retain a bit of the specimen pictured here and keep it as a pet and feed it oyster mushrooms. While I considered the idea, I ended up deciding against it. 

With all the names associated with this oddity, such as blob, plasmodia, shape-shifting, many-headed, just to name a few.  All I could think of was a sequel to Ghostbusters or some equally creative sci-fi film featuring my office and an experiment gone woefully wrong.  

There seems to be some indication that these protists are even capable of solving problems, without a brain I might add. In scientific studies it has been shown they will always choose the shortest distance to a food source, no matter the obstacles put in their path. Work smarter, not harder, seems to be their motto. 

Top Picture---Fresh Oyster Mushroom

Middle Picture---Slime Mold attacking the Oyster Mushroom

Botom Right---After the Slime Mold is done feeding 

Once the plasmodial stage has exhausted its food supply and the damp conditions begin to dry out, they will enter into the next stage of development, the reproductive stage.  During this fruiting stage tiny spores will develop that appear to have two heads, which is where the common name many-headed comes from. These spores will be spread by wind or via insects, mites and earthworms. 

Fruiting body--spores

Fruiting body--spores

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once carried to new locations, they sit dormant, waiting for the right rainy conditions, to mysteriously appear, and undulate their way through the forest, consuming everything it their path. 

                                                              Beware the Slime Mold!

 

 

 

 

Dandelions---Natures Little Ray of Sunshine

Ella Wheeler Wilcox said it best when she said, “A weed is but an unloved flower.” Without a doubt the most recognized of these unloved flowers is the dandelion. Love them or hate them no one can deny their bright yellow flowers brighten up the spring landscape after a long, dreary winter. Approximately thirty million years ago dandelions first appeared on the Eurasian landscape and have spread their population throughout most of the world. Dandelions share the family Asteraceae, with the daisy’s and sunflowers. Just like the yellow sunflower, dandelions also orient themselves with the sun, opening their flower head each morning and closing up each evening. Throughout North American the common dandelion or wandering dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is the most prevalent and widespread of all the known species. The name Taxaxacum may be derived from the Greek word tarasso which translates to the word disturb which probably hints at its ability to adapt to most any environment. The species name of officinale is derived from the Greek word opificina meaning apothecary or pharmacy. This is in reference to the medicinal qualities the plant possess. The common name dandelion comes from the French term dent-de-lion or lionstooth in reference to the jagged toothy leaves. Over the past several hundred years these common plants have been called many names, many of which are no longer in use today, including lions-tooth, cankerwort, milkwitch, Irish daisy, puffball, priests crown and perhaps the most unusual name of all is wet-a-bed. This colorful name is derived from the French word pissenlit and refers to the plants diuretic qualities. It was said that a child who sniffed a dandelion on May Day would not wet the bed for a year. Those suffering from ailments of the kidneys or liver often drank tonics or teas made from the leaves of the dandelion to aid in cleansing the afflicted organs.

As early as March in Missouri the dormant dandelion will awaken and begin blooming in earnest. These early bloomers provide much needed nectar for hungry pollinators. Although the nectar quality is not as good, or beneficial as other blooming flowers, honeybees will be found partaking of the sweet juices, nonetheless. This has to be a welcome treat after months of existing on stored honey. Dandelions do not require insects to pollinate them, instead they spread their range through wind distribution when the seed heads appear. They can also spread via seed banks, meaning because their seeds are viable in the soil for up to ten years, under the right conditions they will germinate and grow new plants. They may also regenerate through portions of their taproot. This taproot may extend several feet into the soil making them difficult to pull and eradicate. Each dandelion plant can produce more than 5,000 seeds a year or more than 15,000 seeds in its lifetime. It is estimated that a dense stand of dandelions on two and half acres (or one hectare) of land may produce 97,000,000 seeds! Knowing this it is easy to understand how and why the dandelion has been so successful in spreading its range.

Dandelions have long been an important food source and medicinal plant for humans and was brought from Europe to North American more than a hundred years ago as a food source. Because of the high levels of vitamins, A, C, and E, plus calcium and potassium this plant was considered a healthy spring green for individuals deprived of fresh vegetables after a long winter. During Victorian times the wealthy often added blooms and leaves to sandwiches and salads, not only for the taste but also valuable nutrition. The USDA ranks dandelions above spinach and broccoli for nutritional value. Dandelions grow best in temperate climates and moist soils and may be found in a wide variety of habitats that range from our backyards to riverbanks. Because they are difficult to grow in tropical areas these regions of the World often smuggled the seeds from overseas to try and establish populations for their coveted medicinal uses. In the days of orderly lawns dandelions are often considered public enemy #1. 

Therefore with the overbearing amount of dandelions that sprout up nearly everywhere in Missouri, it is hard to imagine regions of the world purposefully planting their seeds. Individuals who study soil content and quality know that dandelions are in indicator species for potassium and calcium. Because these plants prefer soils low in calcium, yet high in potassium, where large stands of these plants thrive, it can indicate the contents of the soil. The long taproots help loosen compacted soil thus creating a microclimate that draws earthworms whose job is to rejuvenate and aerate the soil. This allows water to reach the root systems of turf and plants. If the stand of dandelions is too large they can choke out your turf grass effectively taking over your yard in a few years. I for one don’t mind the dandelions. I am fond of the bright yellow flowers and appreciate the availability of precious nectar for our early spring pollinators. Running a tortoise rescue I can also appreciate the free food for my resident chelonians.

The commonality of dandelions makes them readily available to anyone who is interested in pursuing the culinary benefits as well as medicinal benefits of this versatile plant. All parts of the plant are edible, and one can make wine, jam, jelly and even a coffee substitute from the roots. I for one love the leaves as an interesting taste and texture to my salads. Salve for blisters, bee stings and warts can be made from the juice of the leaves. Even a honey substitute can be made called May honey.

Love them or hate them, these unloved flowers are not going anywhere soon. Maybe this is a case of making lemonade out of lemons, or wine out of dandelions as the case may be.

Lesser Earless Lizard

Last fall we ventured out to Western Kansas to see the chalk formations and visit Little Jerusalem Badlands. Part of the trip was to see the rock formations, but I was also on a mission to photograph insects. The diversity and abundance of grasshopper species is remarkable. I spotted my very first lubber grasshopper. These massive hoppers are sure to leave an impression. On one of our many days spent outside exploring we visited a place called Smokey Valley Ranch, near Oakley, KS. This nearly 19,000-acre property is owned by the Nature Conservancy and is home to bison, prairie chickens, and pronghorn. There is a five-mile walking trail that takes you through short grass prairies, sandy soils, chalk formations and the beautiful terrain that only Western Kansas can offer.

We were about 100 yards into our hike when I saw rapid movement on the ground ahead of us. I wasn’t sure what it was, only that it was sizeable for an insect. As I got closer, I could tell it was not an insect, but a small lizard. It would run rapidly ahead of us, then stop, look back at us, as if to say, “you coming?” Then I would walk forward, it would dart ahead, stop, look and then repeat. This went on for quite some time; to say I was completely fascinated by this “friendly” little reptile would be an understatement. It finally allowed me to get close enough to capture some images, as if deciding he could trust me, or he was completely worn out by the cat-and-mouse game he initiated.

After capturing some images and doing a tentative Google search I was able to identify this lizard as a Lesser Earless Lizard. These small lizards reach about five inches in length from tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. Their body is rather stocky and may be brown, tan, gray or reddish-brown. There are four rows of chevron shaped markings down the back and variable other speckling. Some individuals lack markings altogether. As I was busy figuring out what type of lizard I was looking at, a movement to my right caught my attention, and there was another tiny lizard darting around. This lizard exhibited the same cat-and-mouse behavior as the first one. I finally caught up to it and captured some images of it as well. These adorable lizards lack the external ear openings that nearly all lizards have. This absence of a visible ear opening is what earned them the common name of earless lizard.

Their color can be highly variable and often is in direct correlation to the soil they are living on.

Earless lizards are diurnal and typically active at temperatures above 70 degrees. In the hottest summer months, they are active in mid-morning and late afternoon. During the hottest parts of the day, they hide under brush, plants and mammal burrows. The closest populations to us are in Saline, Dickenson and Ottawa counties in Kansas. Their range includes the Southwestern and parts of the Central United States. In South Dakota they are considered endangered.

 

We saw several of these charming lizards that day, and again the next day at a different location. It was comical watching them rush in and out of sage brush, succulents and other prairie plants looking for food or maybe just cooling their hot little feet off after running around on sun-soaked sand. Their diet consists of insects, spiders and smaller lizards, with grasshoppers and true bugs (stink bugs, assassin bugs, etc.), being their preferred food choice. Their rapid, erratic movements, and tendency to stop mid-movement may aid them in avoiding predators. Animals such as large lizards, small mammals, birds and snakes all enjoy a tiny lizard for dinner. 

Visiting new places with unique habitat features is a sure way to find new-to-you plants, animals and scenery. Let me recommend Western Kansas for some of the most unique rock formations, insect diversity, wildlife viewing and spectacular sunsets.

 

JEWELWEED

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9601061

Jewelweed, or Touch-me-not, grows abundantly throughout Missouri as well as much of the United States. In some areas, where it is not native, like Washington state it is considered an invasive for its tendency to spread quickly and choke out other native plants.

It favors habitats where the soil is damp, such as along creeks, or streams, bottomland soils, bog edges and ditches. It tolerates part sun to full shade.

We have jewelweed all over our farm and I see it in many other locations around Northwest Missouri. It is difficult to mistake for any other plant with its branching, weak stems, succulent foliage and a small, cornucopia shaped flower that blooms brilliant orange with brownish-red spotting. Occasionally nearby you will see a relative called the yellow jewelweed, while related they are not known to hybridize. Jewelweed is considered an annual, however, they readily self-seed and do so in a unique way called ballistochory or explosive dehiscence. The seed pods are packed with seeds, and as they swell little valves within the seed pod coil back rapidly and eject the seeds! This is where the name “touch-me-not” comes from. When the seed pod reaches maturity, if you gently touch it, you can trigger the valves, and the seeds will eject.

https://openverse.org/image/6f4aa72e-1cb4-479e-9efe-aec7d5e751d1?q=jewelweed&p=28

They begin blooming in late spring and through early fall and are pollinated by hummingbirds which are able to reach the curved nectar spurs located within the bloom. You will also see bumblebees and honeybees working their way into the bloom to access the nectar. This plant also self-pollinates through a process called cleistogamy, where tiny, inconspicuous flowers at the base of the plant remain closed and fertilize themselves before they open. Being able to self-pollinate as well as rely on traditional forms of pollination like insects, birds or bats benefits the productivity of the plant. When one source of pollination isn’t available or greatly reduced (i.e. fewer insects or hummingbirds), they can take the task upon themselves and spread their seeds.

https://openverse.org/image/2f5d95ad-0ff7-426d-97b5-c67cd6b16492?q=jewelweed&p=45

All parts of the plant are considered mildly toxic to humans, cats, and dogs, but wildlife such as quail, pheasants and other ground birds use them as food in the fall and winter. Should we decide to dabble with eating Jewelweed, we should do so in moderation. If we consume too much, we can expect some pretty severe gastric upset. Seeds are reported to taste somewhat nutty, and the leaves can be boiled (twice with clean water changes in between, then drained) as a potherb. All parts of the plant contain oxalic acid. These calcium oxalate crystals can lead to kidney stones, in fact of all reported cases of kidney stones as much as 76% are discovered to contain significant amounts of calcium oxalate crystals. What many may not realize is that many of the plants we eat regularly, such as rhubarb, cinnamon, kiwi fruit, tea leaves, taro, turmeric and others all contain oxalic acids and can also lead to kidney stones. In general, if we eat these oxalic rich foods in moderation, we should be fine, but like many things we love, overdoing it can lead to problems.

It is reported that Native Americans regularly used the juices within the stems and leaves of Jewelweed to create poultices to treat rashes such as poison ivy. This might explain why jewelweed often grows near poison ivy. Nature provides us with the cure right next to the culprit. There is evidence found in peer reviewed studies that there is validity in the effectiveness of jewelweed against poison ivy, provided you apply it after short term exposure. Keep this in mind the next time you are in the timber and brush against or accidentally touch poison ivy, reach for the jewelweed and apply the juices contained within, hopefully you will have no lasting consequences in the form of an unbearable itch. Native Americans also considered this plant useful in relieving the sting from stinging nettles and the itch from chiggers. I will be trying this the next time I fall into a patch of nettles or chiggers find my ankles.

https://openverse.org/image/b8b44912-d932-4e1f-af8a-a76a71332d08?q=jewelweed&p=37

Nature often provides the very thing we need to counteract many ill effects of plant foliage either through ingestion or by touch. We just need to learn which ones are effective for what ails us.

Plains Lubber Grasshopper

Plains Lubber

In August we made a short trip to Western Kansas for a much-needed getaway. We spent hours outdoors exploring short grass prairies and other habitats. One of the first places we visited was Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park in Oakley. I chose this location because of the massive insect diversity reported to be there. We had walked a few hundred yards into the short grass prairie, and I spotted one of my “most wanted” species to photograph, a Plains Lubber Grasshopper. Historically these were called locusts and occasionally appeared in massive numbers, eating everything in sight. There have been no swarms of this species in many decades. The last swarm was reported to have occurred in 2012 in Texas. They are found throughout the Great Plains, including Western Missouri, where small, isolated populations can be found. Another lubber, called the Eastern Lubber is making its way into Missouri on the Eastern side of our state. Currently populations are small, but in time and with climate changing the way it has been for decades, it might not be long, and they will range throughout our state.

Plains Lubbers are large flightless grasshoppers that are sure to leave an impression if you find one. Females may measure up to two and half inches in length with males significantly smaller. However, it isn’t the length that is impressive, it is the girth! These are very chunky grasshoppers! Not only are they large, but they are stunningly beautiful. In the southern regions of their range, they are mostly reddish-brown with green, pink and maybe even blue markings. In the Northern most parts of their range they are mostly green, with pink wing pads spotted with black dots. The legs are reddish near the body, and purple towards the end of the legs. The antennae are bluish-brown. They have a ridge along the middle regions of the abdomen and thorax. They can be any variety of all these colors.

There seems to be discrepancies among professional entomologists, as to whether the lubbers belong in the Acridae or the Romaleidae families of grasshoppers. Scientists can’t seem to definitively decide where to classify them. For now, Romaleidae seems to be the most frequently used classification. The name comes from a Greek word, and when translated into Latin means “strong of body.” This is an apt description of such a heavy-bodied, large grasshopper. The name lubber comes from the old English word lobre, which means lazy, or clumsy, which again is a very good description of this grasshopper. These large grasshoppers have small wings that barely extend half their body length making it impossible for them to fly. Instead, they are destined to a life of crawling or ambling clumsily across the landscape. They appear slow and awkward as they move from place to place. However, what they lack in gracefulness they more than make up for in their ability to climb and jump (MALES up to 9 feet)!

They are found in a variety of open to semi-open grassland settings, such as short grass prairies, tallgrass prairies, scrublands, along weedy roadsides, vacant lots and field margins. Typically, their food of choice is common sunflowers, ragweed, feverfew and other forbs. They can be the occasional pest of cotton, especially if their number exceeds the threshold for the size of the field. This is generally one adult per 3 feet of row or two adults per square yard in bordering vegetation being capable of causing significant injury. The damage is often limited to the first 40 or 50 rows of cotton along the field margins. However, because this species rarely occurs in any significant population density, the risk to cotton and other crops is low. Beyond the occasional rare annual outbreak followed by years of small population density, they are not considered a significant threat to agriculture. Because of their preference for plants that are often viewed as weeds, such as common sunflowers and ragweed, they are often considered beneficial. This species also consumes insect carrion on a regular basis and has also been observed killing insects to eat.

FUN FACT: When their populations surge, they may make road conditions hazardous as their dead bodies can make roads slick, particularly in the summer months. 

Like many insects, they possess defensive strategies to avoid being eaten by hungry predators. Their first line of defense is their coloring. Bright coloration in nature often warns predators they are poisonous or at the very least that they taste bad. The second line of defense is their ability to flap their tiny wings rapidly and to secrete a toxin sprayed from their thorax. Many of the plants they consume give them these beneficial toxins which make them unpalatable to predators. Because they feed on a wide variety of plants at different times of the year, they take in a wide variety of toxins at different times, making it impossible for would-be predators to build up a tolerance for the chemical defense they utilize.

Vertebrates like birds and small mammals have learned to avoid them, and those too young or too naïve to know better will find themselves gagging, regurgitating, or even dying from the experience. Even an opossum, which seems able to eat anything, will avoid them. An exception is loggerhead shrikes, which have figured out that if they impale the lubbers onto a thorn or other sharp object and wait a few days for the toxins to become diluted in the dead grasshopper they can then consume it. Invertebrate predators like large mantids are unaffected by the toxins but find it difficult to manage such large insects covered in thick exoskeletons and large spiny legs, so most avoid expending the energy it would take to overcome one.

Their third line of defense is to hiss loudly startling a predator, which may make it think twice before messing with such an ill-tempered adversary. Having all these defenses seems like overkill, but for an insect incapable of flight and lacking the ability to physically escape (unless they can jump away without being followed) they must employ other means to avoid being eaten.

An often-overlooked historical fact about the Plains Lubber is its contribution to science. Over one hundred years ago, when scientists were just beginning to study/understand chromosomes, genetics and cell division they used the Plains Lubber as their laboratory “guinea pig” for lack of a better description. The chromosomes of this species are exceedingly large for their body size and observing them under a microscope was easier than other options available at the time. This made the Plains Lubber a useful organism for studying genetic processes like mitosis and meiosis.

In 1902, Walter Sutton used this species to demonstrate that chromosomes carry the physical basis for Gregor Mendal’s theory of inheritance, thus forming a cornerstone of the chromosomal theory of heredity. The plains lubber grasshopper and other grasshopper species continue to be subjects of genetic research and analysis, leading to further discoveries about chromosome behavior. How cool is that?

This grasshopper is sure to impress in a wide variety of ways, whether it is for its ability to control weeds, and consume vast amounts of dead insects, or its overall beauty and size or for its contributions to science, this is one insect you won’t soon forget.

Tarantula Hawk Wasp

On a recent trip to western Kansas I kept noticing a fast flying, large insect moving erratically across the short grass prairies we visited. They wizzed by so quickly I could not get an ID. The sound of their wings and the sheer size of them was intimidating, and I was determined to figure out what these giants of the insect world were. It took two days, several trips to the prairies, lots of hiking, and multiple fly-bys, before one finally landed long enough for a positive ID. It only took two seconds to recognize it as a tarantula hawk wasp! This particular insect is one I had hoped to see on our trip and was thrilled to have been allowed the privilege. After experiencing a lifer insect, I was not to be stopped at just seeing one, I wanted to see one in action! Every trip into the prairie for the following three days I expressed my wish to see one grab a tarantula. 

On our last day in the area we visited Smoky Valley Ranch, owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy. This working ranch is over 18,000 acres of habitat for bison, prairie chickens, lesser eared lizards, and much more. We no sooner entered the prairie on the primitive trail when I began spotting tarantula hawks. I saw dozens of them, and I kept telling myself...where there are tarantula hawks there are tarantulas! It was nearing sundown and before it got too dark to see, I headed back to the car. I had my eyes pretty much glued to the trail in front of me seeking insects to photograph before I lost good light...when low-and-behold, right at the edge of the trail not 30 feet from the car sat a tarantula! Several tarantula hawks were flying in the area and I couldn't help but wonder if one would spot this spider out in the open. It was only after several minutes passed that I realized this tarantula was not behaving right. It was not moving. I squatted down to get a closer look when out of a hole behind it appeared a tarantula hawk!  This tarantula had already been discovered by one of these large wasps!

Tarantula Hawk Wasps are a solitary wasp belonging to the family Pompilidae. There are 133 known species and probably more waiting to be discovered. There are two genus' Pepsis and Hemipepsis. Two of the most commonly encountered are P. grossa and P. thisbe. They look similar and can be difficult to differentiate one from the other. P. grossa have blue bodies with reddish antennae, that P. thisbe lacks. I was sure the one pictured here was P. thisbe, but cannot be 100% certain. 

These wasps are huge! They can reach lengths over two inches.  As adults, both males and females nectar at a variety of flowers, but the offspring need a diet of protein to develop. Like their name suggests it is tarantulas they are seeking. These wasps fly over tarantula habitats scanning the areas for tell-tale signs of prey. Tarantulas know to avoid these wasps, but escaping a vigilant huntress is not always easy.  Once the wasp has located a tarantula she will sting it between the legs which paralyzes it quickly. If the wasp entered the burrow of a female tarantula investigating it for prey, she may use that burrow for her brood chamber...or not, she may move it to a nest chamber she previously created. If she locates a male tarantula on the move, she will drag its paralyzed body to a burrow she created herself. Whether she chooses to relocate the tarantula or utilize the lair of the unfortunate spider, one thing is certain once the spider has been stung its fate is sealed. Using their long legs with special hooked claws they are able to drag these large, immobilized spiders surprisingly long distances over clumps of grass and other obstacles. 

 

The female wasp will lay a single egg on the abdomen of the tarantula, cover the chamber and leave. When the egg hatches the little wasp larvae will burrow into the abdomen of the provided protein packed spider. The haemolymph, or blood-like fluid, is usually the first to be consumed, then gradually tissue is consumed avoiding vital organs until the very final stages of development for the larvae. Once the larvae pupate the spider will succumb to its unfortunate experience. Eventually the adult wasp will emerge from the abdomen of the tarantula and the cycle starts all over.  

If this sounds like the stuff of nightmares, it is, at least for the tarantula. 

With large wasps, come large stingers, and tarantula hawks have some of the longest in the wasp world, P. grossa is reported to have a stinger that is 15/32 of an inch long!!! Only the females have stingers, males do not. Their sting is reported to be one of the most excruciating experiences in the wasp world. Thankfully, these solitary wasps are docile by nature and are only prone to sting if sufficiently harassed. If you are crazy enough to harass a wasp this large, maybe you should be stung. With such a powerful defense mechanism onboard, very few animals will chose these wasps as a meal. I read roadrunners will eat them, they must be really good at not getting stung. Stings are not considered medically important, you're just going to hate life for awhile. If you are allergic to stinging insects then immediate medical care should be sought. 

One researcher described the pain as "immediate,excruciating, unrelenting pain that simply shuts down ones ability to do anything but scream!" 

An entomologist by the name of Justin Schmidt came up with the idea to create a sting pain scale. He allowed himself to be stung over 1,000 times and compared each sting with previous ones and gave each a rating based on intensity, duration of pain, etc. On a scale of one to four, he ranks honey bees as a two, with a four being almost unbearable in pain. Guess where tarantula hawks came in? You guessed it....a 4!

The sting of a tarantula hawk wasp is ranked #2 in pain level only after the bullet ant!! 

 

 

 

Fortunately, for humans these wasps typically pay no attention to us as we venture into their hunting grounds. This is one wasp, however, I would not recommend swatting at with your hat. The pain, said to last about 5 minutes, would feel like hours, as you scream in agony.