Tarantula Hawk Wasp ( Pepsis ) vs Tarantula

Footage from an encounter between a wasp (in this case, Pepsis Mexicana) and a desert tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes). The entire episode lasted nearly 45 minutes during which the wasp repeatedly circled and harassed the alarmed spider. Despite a few intense fights, the tarantula was ultimately able to escape the wasp this time.
If a pepsis wasp can successfully sting a tarantula and paralyze the spider, she will drag it back to her den, lay eggs in its body, and seal the hole over to trap the tarantula inside. The wasp larvae avoid vital organs so the tarantula remains alive while they feed on its body. It's a gruesome life cycle in an unlikely and formidable host.
This video was recorded southern Arizona.
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#tarantula #tarantulahawkwasp #wasp #tarantulahawk #backyardwildlife #tucson #arizona #desert #southwest

[@joebagadonuts1547]

Tarantula: *minding his own business* Tarantula Hawk: *have my babies*

[@octapusxft]

The spider has no facial expressions but it is easy to tell how terrified it is

[@keech5348]

Lmao at the end when the tarantula ran after the camera man

[@LoFiOutdoors]

I was wearing flip flops, too!

[@keech5348]

@@LoFiOutdoors oh damn!!! Scary!!! Good job getting away tho.

[@stanleypereira2284]

The tarantula: save me human

[@RastaSmurf42O]

Literally never seen one survive before 😂

[@kelvikelv5322]

You turned this battle into a Stephen King movie with that music! 😂

[@Wonderhussy]

I never thought I'd be rooting for a tarantula!! I just moved to Death Valley and one of these wasps flew into my house the first night 😮😮😮

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Yikes! That's quite the house warming guest!

[@zachariahemanuel4017]

Instablaster

[@luceatlux7087]

Everytime i see some bug in my house that i can't abide, i think back to that scene in 'The Fan' where Rob Dinero throws that knife and splits the bug in two... Someday I'm going to do that casually and nonchalantly while a friend is over and I'm not going to say sht about it. It's going to be the closest I'll ever come to feeling like a king badass and I will carry the experience in the front of my consciousness for the rest of life... Filter on loop.

[@antoniocarter9913]

Wow one of the few times it actually escapes

[@metalwarrior1893]

That was a careful and brave Tarantula. You can see how she move her Abdomen up. Its her most important body with lounges and heart... very intelligent behavour of these Spider...

[@LuisVidrioTipsyConsejos]

@@metalwarrior1893 I'd wish that more Tarantulas would act like this one

[@metalwarrior1893]

@@LuisVidrioTipsyConsejos Oh me too!!!! I Love tarantulas so much and ITS so sad that to 99percent the wasp win :(

[@LuisVidrioTipsyConsejos]

@@metalwarrior1893 It's not fair!

[@mikes6853]

White Knee eat those wasp all the time they attack instead of flee and grab and bite the wasp before she can even do her deadly back stroke lol😂😂😂 more Ts need to follow the white knee behavior

[@joebagadonuts1547]

Tarantula: *minding his own business* Tarantula Hawk: *Cmon, it’ll only hurt just a little*

[@jimjustice581]

Quentin Tarantula-tino is having no part of this. He’s thinking that anything approaching him and flipping over on its back can’t be a friend.

[@joebagadonuts1547]

Tarantula: *minding his own business* Tarantula Hawk: *gremlin noises* “Cmon, just a little sting. It’ll only take a second”

[@rse4340]

Tbh its kind of fascinating how sometimes somehow tarantulas escape this, interesting video!

[@markelrod582]

It was smart of the tarantula to head to the rocky terrain where the wasp couldnt scoot as easy on its back.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

That's true.

[@owenkittredge3433]

It is amazing that generations of natural selection creates this method of reproduction.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Yes! I agree.

[@Andy-df5fj]

The tarantula knew to keep it's abdomen up to prevent an underside attack. Inherited knowledge is fascinating.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

It really is super fascinating

[@abdullagangster7937]

этот паук явно опытный. видно что не впервые сталкивается с Осой

[@michaellazor5667]

That tarantula escaped one of the most brutal deaths in the animal kingdom

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Very true

[@nicadair7700]

No way that spider escaped, those wasps don't give up.

[@monkeyseemonkeydo1794]

1:00 you can feel the desperation in that tarantula. poor thing is scare shitless and tries its best to run away with its inefficient lungs. they quickly tire out as wasps are relentless and can keep harrassing the spider until they tire out and eventually get stung. also its very unlikely the tarantula escaped just because it managed to temporarily distance its self from the wasp. wasps are excellent trackers and unrelenting. in no time she will find the spider again and keep the onslaught. i've chased away wasps from spiders but they always fly back and hone in on the spider again and again.

[@alexandrawhite3438]

crazy. i see those wasps flying around at my house and i scream and run inside😂

[@nicadair7700]

That Tarantula didn't escape, the wasp would never give up, you stopped filming prematurely.

[@joebagadonuts1547]

Tarantula: *minding his own business* Tarantula Hawk: *Cmon, just a little sting. That’s all I’m asking*

[@Zebcaramel]

4 different comments damn somebody’s really trying

[@manoloxines9113]

Man...that fuckin wasp when it turns her back to the ground to slide under thingiebob always blows me away

[@sabre-ub3op]

The end was the best part lmao you big chicken

[@LoFiOutdoors]

LOL! I got out of the way quick!

[@LoFiOutdoors]

@Cody Mcconnell It definitely got away and seemed like it had energy, so I think it probably did survive, but not certain.

[@stian6390]

Tarantula escaped only because the Hawk gave up sliding under it with all the small rocks under it making it exhausting and less effective. The funny thing is that the Hawk could've just flown up relaxing on a branch while scouting for the Tarantula and when the landscape under it changes the Hawk attacks again. The Hawk is actually very smart

[@newripp666]

7:09 The cameraman freak out once the tarantula running towards him

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Indeed. It was surprising!

[@josephastier7421]

In a desperate move, the spider runs up the cameraman’s pant leg.

[@adult_karvarshal]

Tanrantula hawk:wanna be prenant?😊 Tarantula:NO SAVE ME HUMAN you:OH NO IM WEARING FLIP FLOPS AHH tarantula:YA KNOW WHAT F### THIS IM LEAVING

[@LoFiOutdoors]

🤣🤣

[@icenoob8904]

Wow that tarantula is a tough one

[@terrencemiller5284]

Good video!! Thanks

[@josephastier7421]

I don’t know what happened there but the spider almost never escapes. Crazy.

[@nicadair7700]

It didn't, the recording stopped prematurely.

[@michaelblair7141]

What did you use for the soundtrack? Super creepy and eerie, well done! Glad the T escaped! Edit: WOAH!! Didn't expect the charge at the end!

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Thanks! Glad you dig it. I used Cakewalk and a few VSTs. I'm not sure I recall which ones specifically. Cakewalk works well for a free program. I think the tarantula saw my shadow and thought I was shelter until I jumped out of the way and it kept going. I thought the tarantula had been stung on one the fights but it kept going. I followed the wasp around for a while and it left the area without finding the tarantula

[@Josh729J]

@@LoFiOutdoors was the wasp like looking around for it? thats so werid how it could lose it haha

[@LoFiOutdoors]

@@Josh729J The wasp was definitely looking for the spider. I think it lost track of the tarantula because of me actually. I have been meaning to post the unedited footage. The tarantula kind of ran under me.

[@magicbus63]

The Tarantula was probably singing Elvis Presley I Got Stung lol!

[@nirxu4743]

Crazy to think about how tarantulas cannot see yet are still super smart animals

[@denofsouls9564]

They can see! Barely, but they can see about 2 inches from the eyes. And they can see some colours, such as blues and related colours

[@metalwarrior1893]

Not right. Spiders can see! But they no need their eyes. Only Jumping Spiders use them....

[@denofsouls9564]

No, almost all spiders with eyes can use them for sight, not just jumpers. Ts don’t see well but can still see with their eyes. Although they mostly rely on air and ground vibrations and chemicals to get around. Wolf spiders have great eyesight, as do oger spiders, jumpers aren’t the only ones who can see well using their eyes.

[@metalwarrior1893]

@@denofsouls9564 I just wanted say that Jumping Spiders need and use their eyes. Other spiders can see too but they no need them. They feel air and ground Vibrations , so as you say...

[@denofsouls9564]

@@metalwarrior1893 oh I see, I thought you were saying that only jumping spiders can see using the eyes

[@jose09841]

The Tarantula Hawk has one of the most PAINFUL stings in the insect world and yet their colors are beautiful.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

True!

[@tiedupsmurf]

Great video 📹👍🏽

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@Idiegoh]

Run spider run

[@tamijocampbell4629]

That spider had to be getting so annoyed with that wasp. It was out strolling along and suddenly here comes the worst kind of stalker. Did I see that right, in the one part , the wasp actually layed on its back and tried to scoot under the spider? I mean it makes sense, if you have to sting it on the underside, THAT would be the easiest way to so that lol

[@IAmBuddythedecibwave]

Yeah, I've seen a few attacks and they always do that. It's a straight up hunting tactic. I think she may be trying to exhaust/disorient the spider as well.

[@metalwarrior1893]

es ist üblich das sich die Wespe auf den Rücken legt. Normal

[@onerazanp]

Re drama queen esos biólogos. Si la queres atrapar se ahogan de a montones en las piscinas de la zona montañosas

[@BichomaniaChannel]

Impressive video!

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@insideoutsideupsidedown2218]

Tarantula: “Hooman, hooman, help me!”

[@siesta3002]

Hooman: mmmmm *SPIDA*

[@beastfromcukovice]

wasp calling the spider into jiu-jiutsu guard

[@jacksonrodriguez6481]

Que bien por la tarántula

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Si. Tuvo buena suerte!

[@aprenderlife]

Wasp wants to play jiu jitsu

[@93DLareg]

wasp is smart but outsmarted by tarantula keeping its body high so that cant get stung easily and force to wasp to lean on its back

[@michapodlaszuk9025]

Poor T, I would save it right away :(

[@tressorreginaldotransregio1001]

I was rooting for the trantula

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Me too

[@petermallia558]

It's amazing how resilient the wasps' seemingly delicate wings are as it backstrokes on the ground to get underneath the belly of the tarantula to sting it anywhere between joints where the legs attack to the spiders' two body parts, the Abdomen and the Cephalothorax which is the head and thorax in one, unlike insects that have three body parts, head, abdomen and thorax. Also, I wonder of the Hawk wasp give off, releases some kind of pheromone which affects the spider making feel like it's drunk or tripping, either that or the tarantula has a built-in innate fear of the wasp, an instinctive fear of what's to come.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

I found the backstroke maneuver fascinating too. It must be a somewhat vulnerable position for the wasp

[@Josh729J]

I just read a comment from someone who said that some species are thought to flap their wings to confuse the spider into thinking its a bird and their defense mechanism is to stay still. I also saw that they emit some sort of fragrance when excited (the wasp) and that may be intoxicating to the spider as you said. It definitely looks weird but apparently it is not known currently why the spider does not put up more of a fight. it also has pretty bad eyesight which is why it looks like it doesnt see the wasp too well.

[@megaball-ps8tq]

The tarantula was really lucky

[@thehonorablejiveturkeyspoo6370]

😵‍💫Psychedelic music

[@lesewing]

Lucky tarantula, the wasp wins most of the time.

[@Kyielith]

I'd fucking step on that wasp

[@snaggalfrash9013]

@@Kyielith Nature would become unbalanced.

[@Kyielith]

@@snaggalfrash9013 I could care fucking less.

[@91137732]

I´m pretty sure the wasp had won. The camera guy probably just left the place without seeing the rest of the clash

[@Kyielith]

@@91137732 no it got away, after the wasp gave up

[@manov_denis]

7:08 - Holy fuck I thought this tarantula’s going to attack the camera

[@Cesk3boy]

Wow

[@corrineanders6373]

Run spider, Run😢😢

[@LoFiOutdoors]

It did eventually run away! It was lucky!

[@KurtPapke]

It's definitely a spider wasp, but tarantula hawks are Pepsis grossa and have rust colored wings. Nonetheless, good photography and persistence tracking the events for 45 minutes!

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Thanks for being the first post on my channel! I did my best to ID this wasp and, from the black wings, it looks like a Pepsis Mexicana. From my research, it appears tarantula hawk is a term for any of the fifteen pepsis species that predate tarantulas, so perhaps the common name is used more broadly. I am thinking of posting the unedited footage in case anyone would like to see the whole thing.

[@tamijocampbell4629]

@@LoFiOutdoors I'd watch it. This was really interesting. I'm sure some people would find it boring but I found it interesting to watch the chase

[@maddstaxx]

​@@LoFiOutdoorsit is a tarantula hawk. You are correct

[@thepub245]

Its usually game over for the spider but this one seemed to be putting up quite a fight.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

I was surprised it got away too! The tarantula made a break for it and that seemed to disorient the wasp.

[@thepub245]

I have seen only 1 other video where the spider prevailed and that was because the wasp made a reckless clumsy attack. I always root for the spider, the wasps are wee feckers, even the ones we have in UK are just so annoying. I read somewhere its the female hawk wasps that attack the spiders as part of their reproduction cycle. They only live for a couple of months I think, so its no wonder they are so driven to get their 'job' done! You didn't hit the wasp a crack with a rolled up newspaper off camera did you? 🤣

[@andreaalvino7489]

Yo alentando a la tarántula a escapar, todos comemos pero me da lastima los que son casados

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Gracias por ver!

[@andreaalvino7489]

No hay de q 😁

[@giovannyandrescortesrodrig2846]

I've heard that for a human sized being Is like the most painful Stung ever, imagine the pain of that tarantula.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

It is definitely a painful sting for people. I don't know how tarantula nerves work, if the sting also causes them pain or if I just paralyzes them. It must be very unpleasant however it feels.

[@giovannyandrescortesrodrig2846]

@@LoFiOutdoors i believe the pain Is so intense that paralyzes the victim

[@emokittygladden1512]

I would try save the tarantula

[@alligator5890]

aslında bu arının adı mezarcı olmalıymış...

[@shiningbluenebula]

An epic life and death struggle people actually have these spiders as pets it looks like an Arizona blonde species.

[@christeenespeut4832]

he put up a good fight

[@Dylan-cr5ub]

I thought they weren’t that fast until i saw the ending 😧😂.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Yeah they can really move when they want to!

[@mariananunezgonzalez9003]

🤩🤩🤩

[@miguelangelgarcia9425]

Ami me pico una avispa de ese tamaño en la mano y el dolor era terrible en unos cuantos segundos no podía respirar lo que hice fue cortarme con una navaja y me queme la herida con un encendedor creo que aún así el veneno de la avispa me dolía más pero gracias aeso no paso a mayores

[@Canal-do-estilete]

😮

[@kevinnelson7070]

I always wondered why the wasp just doesn't hover above and sting the spider from above in the air 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@LoFiOutdoors]

The wasp needs some leverage to sting.

[@ademireugenio1338]

Linda 🤩🤩🤩💕💗💕💕 t

[@miguelangelgarcia9425]

La tarántula hizo un movimiento de lucha libre pero no fue suficiente para intimidar ala avispa que su objetivo no era el de darle una madriza ala tarántula sino incubar sus huevos en la espalda de la tarantula

[@gonzalezusg]

Pinche avispa super inteligente que se tirava patas parriva para poder entrar

[@Auriverde258]

7:09 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@blipzero]

ahh i see it wiill make the spider move till it is tired and then as the spider can not move it flips it's self over to sting the spider ... so cool .

[@MegaFoobar]

Creepy.

[@carpetcleaningfreak562]

I'm not sold on the spider escaping. That wasp woulda caught straight up and finished the job. They are upstoppable terminators lol.

[@makpazon11]

This wasp is really annoying. I wonder how it knows how to tell a tarantula from other creatures.

[@mypony891]

That's creapy

[@philippewynne]

The spider wasps I've seen here in Houston would have taken that tarantula out a long time ago. They are fearless and relentless. This one is taking too long.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Most of the spider wasps in AZ have copper colored wings and are more like you describe. I've never seen them do this crazy backstroke thing this one does in the video. Are those the ones in TX?

[@philippewynne]

@@LoFiOutdoorsYes, we have those and other different species of spider wasps. The spider wasps here that I observed are very bold and will not hesitate to attack any spider no matter how large they are. I witnessed many of a day a spider wasp entering a spider's nest or web full head on showing absolutely no fear at all in search of the spider. All of the encounters of wasp and spider I witnessed over the years was the spider fleeing in terror from the mere sight of these wasps. They are usually captured, stung, paralyzed, subdued, and dragged away very quickly. Usually in just seconds. All the Spiders put up no fight at all they just flee in terror.

[@metalwarrior1893]

@@philippewynne Oh No....Black Widows in example fights back and they win often. It has a lot Videos... In their Web of Course..

[@philippewynne]

@@metalwarrior1893 I've too seen videos of Tarantula hawks getting subdued by Black Widow spiders. But they normally don't prey on Black Widows. They normally attack the ground spiders like the tarantulas who don't sit on a web. But one wasp the Blue Mud Dauber actually prefer web spiders like the Black Widows. It specializes in capturing them. It doesn't get caught in the web. It will actually fly into the web and pretend it's a trapped insect. Spider rushes out thinking it's got a meal, but instead gets grabbed, stung, and paralyzed. Wasp flies away with spider.

[@edilbertojosetabangcura795]

Am i the only one who felt bad for the tarantula? 😔😔😔

[@lesewing]

Considering the spiders fate with all species of spider hunting wasps, it could of been much, much, worse.

[@erica9621]

Yeah

[@midnightwolf1902]

@@erica9621 agreed

[@sabre-ub3op]

No I I'd also

[@seonkawari1253]

That's a Pepsi cola against tarantula 😳 what about 🤔 Pepsi cola against coca cola

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Ha! Lol. An epic battle

[@WorldAquariumSingapore]

WOW the Wasp looking at the Tarantula is like a Bee attracted to Honey, or a Man meets a beautiful Girl

[@krunk9790]

the wasp simply wont leave them alone #anoyingwasp

[@ashhill6167]

you prapse shouldnt interfere with the natural foodchain as im sure the prey the tarantula eats would of wanted to live ... but i would of trod on that wasp long ago.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

The wasp looks small, but it's quite scary in person.

[@highway2run]

Just the tip, I promise

[@igorpereiraseoud10]

Oi GOSTEi Bastante MUITo Do VIDEo alienígena extraterrestre altamente avançada.

[@igorpereiraseoud10]

OI.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Estou feliz que você gostou!

[@silvanoyeezus]

Jiu-jitsu no-gi

[@sendnoodles5437]

Is the tarantula hawk technically a necrophile ?

[@LoFiOutdoors]

A necrophile has sex with dead things. The wasp lays eggs in a paralyzed but still living tarantula, so not a necrophile.

[@DouglasSalguero-qh2sd]

Does the wasp ever get bit and get venom

[@nicadair7700]

The wasp wins 99% of the time.

[@dankwartdenkhardt5714]

there are at least 3 videos on YT where the tarantula succeeds in fending off the wasp

[@aaaronobaid3571]

no not really reseachers have shown, that its a rare chance that a tarantula can win against a hawk

[@roxas4439]

@@aaaronobaid3571 it happens more than you would think. I have seen a couple vids myself.

[@SealBreeze]

Has a Tarantula ever beaten a Tarantula Wasp?

[@LoFiOutdoors]

Hey now, Howard! I think the spiders' instinct is to escape rather than fight, though I suppose a tarantula could kill the wasp and it might happen once in a while. I've never seen or heard of it personally.

[@jupiternightwolves9561]

I absolutely hate these things, poor tarantula. I understand they are a vital part of the ecosystem and nature is extremely brutal but I'd stomp on a tarantula wasp any time. I have a huge soft spot for tarantulas and it pisses me off to see these parasitic wasps terrorizing them. I also just hate wasps in general.

[@imafkingbeastandrewtateise9563]

Yeah bro imagine being a tarantula and you realize when you see one wasp an other tarantula died to the wasp in the past.

[@trogo3402]

I thought this was gonna be about soda

[@sabre-ub3op]

Lol me too sorta

[@ReggieRichmanYT]

you know you can kill the wasp to save the spider

[@LoFiOutdoors]

You can go after a wasp. I'll watch from a distance lol

[@stevanjovanovic6817]

Pepsi

[@williamjackson945]

Does ne body else out here call this guys dirtdobers I mean here in Macon ga.we don't exactly have tar ran Tula's some mite look but the dirtdober does the same shit you'll. Find redclay tubes just stuck to a board and there brittle when I was a child we would open them up and depending on the hunt one tube could be 3" s long and have o er 100 assorted spiders in it and all alive so they well be eaten alive by larva

[@LoFiOutdoors]

I know dirt daubers and mud daubers. We had them in Massachusetts too. These spider hawk wasps do look like daubers but they are a lot bigger. Probably 2 times as big!

[@chrystianmora1245]

Maloooooooo!!!!

[@nicolleolavarrueth4362]

JAJAJAJ

[@prakash_B3412]

460

[@lawyershahbazi5547]

I hate wasps

[@Jerome13434]

I hate what wasp

[@axelbelleris]

Why didn't the tarantula get mad and catch the wasp? She would have eaten her.

[@LoFiOutdoors]

The wasp can kill the tarantula more easily than the tarantula can kill the wasp

[@axelbelleris]

@@LoFiOutdoors So sad... 🥺

[@obaidurrehman2181]

Actually all it needs to do is get under it and sting in it's stomach not under side

[@mda1218]

find that soft spot and sink the sting : tarantula feels the burn as he stiffens up ☠️