{"product_id":"pepsis-heros-giant-spider-wasp-xl","title":"Pepsis heros GIANT spider wasp XL","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPECIES \u003c\/strong\u003e Pepsis heros\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eORIGIN   \u003c\/strong\u003eSouth America\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFRAME \u003c\/strong\u003e  16.5x16.5xD5cm Made from recycled products.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDESCRIPTION\u003c\/strong\u003e HUGE !!!!  Pepsis wasp\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e body length is approx. 50mm.\u003c\/span\u003e Rarely offered as they are difficult to obtain in this extra-large size. \u003cem\u003ePepsis\u003c\/em\u003e are called tarantula hawks because they search for, paralyze, and can carry large tarantulas back to their nests. These are among the largest and most aggressive wasps in the world. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdult tarantula hawks get their nutrition from nectar, but only the females will battle spiders to provide food for their offspring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey pierce the tarantula with a sharp, curved sting, rapidly injecting venom that permanently paralyses but keeps its hairy adversary alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe incapacitated spider is either held captive in its own burrow or dragged to the wasp's nest. The female then lays a single egg on the spider's body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe purpose of this act: a pre-prepared dinner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the egg hatches, the larva burrows its way inside the spider's abdomen and begins feasting on the still-living tarantula.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt begins by feeding on haemolymph - the spider equivalent of blood - before gorging itself on the tissue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEventually the offspring emerges from the spider as an adult tarantula hawk. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIf stung, just scream\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor humans and other vertebrates, the tarantula hawk has one of the most painful stings on the planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmerican entomologist Justin Schmidt created the sting pain index, with the help of variably willing or unwitting test subjects. He once described the tarantula hawk's sting as 'instantaneous, electrifying and totally debilitating'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tarantula hawk has been awarded second place on the Schmidt sting pain index, beaten only by the South American bullet ant (\u003cem\u003eParaponera clavata\u003c\/em\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pain from a bullet ant sting lasts up to 24 hours, whereas that of a wasp usually only aggravates the unlucky victim for five minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSchmidt has also in the past suggested that when stung, the only response is to 'lay down and scream'. \u003cspan\u003eTarantula hawks are fairly docile unless provoked, although the threat of debilitating pain appears to have left this insect mostly unchallenged, with no known predators.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eref \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nhm.ac.uk\/\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.nhm.ac.uk\/\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the largest wasp we have ever stocked - it's monstrous !!!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLimited item.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOMES IN RECYCLED CARDBOARD GIFT BOX\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"footer.jpg\" class=\"__mce_add_custom__\" height=\"128\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/3153\/6811\/files\/footer.jpg?v=1782195205\" title=\"footer.jpg\" width=\"503\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bits \u0026 Bugs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47265650802859,"sku":"BBPHs - 070202","price":185.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/3153\/6811\/files\/BJPSP_pepsis_heros_3__82905.1756857372.1280.1280.jpg?v=1782215517","url":"https:\/\/bitsandbugs.com\/products\/pepsis-heros-giant-spider-wasp-xl","provider":"Bits \u0026 Bugs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}