This Isn’t A Horror Movie, It’s Clayton: Clayton Resident Captures Giant Wasp That Hunts, Paralyzes, And Lays Eggs Inside Live Tarantulas So Its Babies Can Eat Them From The Inside Out – And Yes, Its Sting Is One Of The Most Painful On Earth (VIDEO)

One resident in Clayton had a brush with one of nature’s most intimidating insects this week when a massive tarantula hawk wasp was not only spotted, but also caught for a brief period of time until it was released back into the wild. The capture of the 3-inch bug with a 4-inch wingspan occurred in a residential area near Mt. Diablo, where Clayton resident Liam managed to capture the massive wasp and record video and photos. Tarantula hawk wasps are known for their stunning size, vibrant orange wings, and their notoriously painful sting, rated among the most intense in the insect world. Despite their fearsome reputation, these wasps are not aggressive toward humans unless provoked. Native to the deserts of the Southwest, including parts of California, these wasps can occasionally be found as far north as Contra Costa County, especially during the hot summer months when they seek out nectar-rich plants like milkweed, mesquite, and soapberry. But it’s their reproductive habits that give them their name. Female tarantula hawks hunt down full-grown tarantulas, sting them into paralysis, and drag them into a burrow where they lay a single egg on the spider’s still-living body. The larva then feeds on the tarantula, avoiding vital organs to keep it alive as long as possible. Experts say it’s not uncommon for these wasps to occasionally appear in suburban areas bordering natural open space, like the foothills of Mt. Diablo.  Big thanks to Liam for sharing the video and Nate for sharing the photo with all of us. Click on the image above to watch the video.

Show some love for the eight-legged locals! Our tarantula merch is crawling with style — only at the Claycord store.