Results: The New Mexico State Insect
Published on 09/05/2017
The tarantula hawk wasp (Pepsis formosa) was designated the official state insect of New Mexico in 1989.
These huge wasps feed on nectar from flowers, but feed their offspring in a particularly morbid fashion . When a female is ready to lay her eggs, she seeks out a tarantula and injects it with paralyzing venom. She drags the tarantula to a burrow and stuffs it down the hole, then lays her eggs on top of the paralyzed spider. Several days later the eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the still living tarantula
QUESTIONS
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1.
1.
Have you ever seen one?
Yes
7%
149 votes
No
89%
1876 votes
Undecided
4%
93 votes
2.
2.
I have seen several, one entrapped in my fireplace, a few around my yard. Would you kill it or take the chance to set it free? kill it
67%
1423 votes
set it free
33%
695 votes
3.
3.
Their sting for humans is said to be one of the most painful in the world. Have you ever been stung by any insect? Yes
72%
1534 votes
No
28%
584 votes
4.
4.
The wasp spends all day pollinating fruit trees. The tarantula kills many bugs, including black widows and brown recluse spiders. The wasp will hurt you, the tarantula is scary looking. Which do you prefer: a tarantula or a tarantula hawk wasp? tarantula
70%
1486 votes
tarantula hawk wasp
30%
632 votes
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