How to Kill a Tarantula Hawk Wasp
The tarantula hawk wasp, also known as the pepsis wasp, grows 21 to 51 mm long and has a black body and orange wings. It attacks and kills tarantula spiders to provide food for its larvae. After the wasp stings and paralyzes the spider, it lays eggs on it. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae suck the fluids from the live and paralyzed spider, eventually eating it. Luckily, these wasps seldom attack humans unless provoked. Their stings are excruciatingly painful, but they are seldom lethal. Still, you may want to rid your yard of them. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Gloves
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Long pants
- Socks
- Boots
- Hat
- 4 cotton balls
- 10-foot stick
- Lighter
- Wasp killer
Instructions
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1
Put on gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, boots and a hat. These items will help protect you from wasp stings.
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2
Locate the tarantula hawk wasp nest at dusk. It will look like a regular wasp nest. Check peaks in your roof and in trees. Do not engage wasps during the day; this is when they are most active.
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3
Find a tree limb or branch that is approximately 10 feet long. Secure four cotton balls on the end of the stick, poking the stick through them.
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4
Light the cotton balls with a lighter. Stick the flame under the wasp nest until it catches fire. This will only take a matter of moments. Step back 20 feet, place the limb on the ground, and step on the cotton balls until they are no longer on fire.
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5
Spray any wasps emerging from the nest with wasp killer as instructed on its label. If you feel the wasps will attack you, go indoors immediately.
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Tips & Warnings
Never engage wasps if you don't know if you are allergic to their stings. If you are allergic, don't engage wasps at all, and have someone else remove them.
Use caution around open flames and wasp killer.
