Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1895 — THE TARANTULA’S ENEMY. [ARTICLE]

THE TARANTULA’S ENEMY.

A Wasp That Never Failsto Kill the Deadly Insect. Notwithstanding all the tarantula’s great courage and pugnacity, there is one enemy the sound of whose coming throws it into paroxysms of fear. This enemy of which it has such an instinctive dread is a large wasp known as the “Tarantulakiller.” It has a bright blue body nearly two inches long and wings of a golden hue. As it flies here and there in the sunlight, glittering like a flash of fire, one moment resting on a leaf, the next on a granite boulder, it keeps up an incessant buzzing, which is caused by the vibration of its wings. No sooner doc 3 the tarantula hear this than he trembles with fear, for well he knows the fate in store for him when once his mortal foe perceives his whereabouts. This it soon does, and hastens to the attack. At first it is content with flying in circles over its intended victim. Gradually it approaches nearer and nearer. At last, when it is within a few inches, the tarantula rises upon its hind legs and attempts to grapple with its foe, but without success. Like a flash the giant wasp is on its back. The deadly fangs have been avoided. The next instant a fearful sting penetrates deep into the. spider’s body. Its struggles almost cease. A sudden paralysis creeps over it and it staggers helpless like a drunken man, first to one side, then to the other. These symptoms, however, are only of short duration. W'hile they last the wasp, but a few inches away, awaits the result; nor does it have to wait long. A few seconds and all sign of life has disappeared from the tarantula; the once powerful legs curl up beneath its body, and it rolls over dead. Then takes place one of those strange incidents which illustrate the perfect adaptation to circumstances, everywhere so remarkable in the economy of the insect world. The wasp seizes hold of the how prostrate spider, and with little apparent effort drags it to a hole in the ground. Therein it coiinpletely buries it wijbh earth, after having first deposited in its back an egg, which in course of time changes into a grub, and/ lives upon the epeass upon which it was born. This grub in a short while

becomes another tarantula wasp, thus adding one more to the ranks of the enemy of the spider race. The amount of slaughter which ! these large wasps inflict upon the I tarantulas is almost incredible, and I it is noticed that those to which the I greatest destruction is due are the females. It can only be realized when it is known that though the female deposits but one egg in each spider, she has a large number to get rid of, each one of which she provides with a home, and its grub with future sustenance at the expense of the life of a spider. From the powerful character of the tarantula wasp’s sting it may be inferred that they are dangerous to human beings. But this is not so. It never annoys them unless teased. Without a doubt it is man’s friend, not his enemy, and much would dwellers in Mexico regret its absence were it destroyed .