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Tarantula hawk in Eugene #767100

Asked August 12, 2021, 3:29 PM EDT

I am seeing an insect this year that I haven’t seen before. It looks like a black bodied wasp with rust red wings. I am in South Eugene on a dry, rock and oak property within the city limits. A neighbor reports seeing a bunch at Adam’s school playground as well.

Lane County Oregon

Expert Response

Nice pictures. It's not a tarantula hawk (since we are not supposed to have tarantulas this far north), but another member of the same wasp family - the Pompilidae. It is probably Calopompilus pyrrhomelas, which looks similar to the tarantula hawks in the genus Pepsis. 

Calopompilus pyrrhomelas preys on another large spider - the folding trap door spiders in the genus Antrodiaetus. These spiders can be common but the trap door on their burrows keep them well hidden. Here's a little more info on them: https://shannonbowleynature.com/2015/05/05/antrodiaetus-pacificus-the-lurkers-of-the-pacific-northwest/.

The wasps are not aggressive and do not sting unless they are being handled.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 12, 2021, 9:26 PM EDT

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