South-africa-pollination
Guides
Hemipepsis
tarantula hawks, Old and New World Tarantula-hawk Wasps
Hemipepsis is a genus of large spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, commonly known as tarantula hawks. The genus contains approximately 180 species distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with significant diversity in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Hemipepsis wasps are distinguished from the related genus Pepsis by subtle differences in wing venation patterns. In South Africa, Hemipepsis wasps serve as exclusive pollinators for 18 plant species across three families (Apocynaceae, Orchidaceae, and Asparagaceae subfamily Scilloodeae). The genus has been extensively studied for its complex male territorial behavior, particularly in the North American species H. ustulata.