Family overview
Long-legged, often dark with iridescent wings (often blue or rust). Hunt spiders for their larvae.
Tarantula hawks have one of the most painful insect stings on Earth (Schmidt Pain Index 4.0).
At a glance
Family facts.
Distribution
Worldwide
Habitat
Terrestrial
Approx. species
5,000
Notable members
Tarantula hawks (Pepsis), spider wasps