Antennae-dimorphism
Guides
Pepsis mildei
Milde's tarantula-hawk wasp, Milde's tarantula hawk
Pepsis mildei is a large spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, commonly known as Milde's tarantula-hawk wasp. It is native to the Western Hemisphere, with documented records across the southwestern and central United States, Mexico, and Central America. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in antennae structure and lifespan, with females living longer than males. Adults feed on nectar from flowers, while larvae are obligate parasitoids of tarantulas. The wasp has been observed to learn from experience, avoiding chemically defended spiders after a single negative encounter.