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Insects, Butterflies and Arachnids 

 This weeks species is the Thread waisted Wasp

The Thread waisted wasp are scary to most humans, all we think about is the sting. These wasp are solitary insects that that feed on nectar and honeydew like most wasp. The adult female will chase down a spider or grasshopper of her choosing, sting it and take it to a den where she will lay a single egg on or in the spider. The egg hatches and feed on the still alive paralyzed insect or arachnid. I once watched a wasp carry a large grass spider almost 35 feet over very tall grass and put it in the den. They are on the ground or close to the ground a lot, which is where the stings happen. A little respect and understanding about these insects can save people and wasp a lot trouble. The photo to the right is not a thread waisted wasp but the same action is happening. This wasp has stung the spider and is carrying to a underground hole.

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