Milde's Tarantula-hawk Wasp
Pepsis mildei
This record describes Pepsis mildei (species). Recorded family: Pompilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Males may have antennae with the flagellum colored in varying amounts of orange and black. (BG images) Wing coloring may vary from solid-black to mostly-orange. ♂ ♀
Wikipedia reference for Pepsis mildei: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsis_mildei.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Pompiloidea
- Family
- Pompilidae (Spider Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Pepsinae
- Tribe
- Pepsini
- Genus
- Pepsis (Tarantula-hawk Wasps)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Females with prey:
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Pepsis mildei. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Milde's Tarantula-hawk Wasp (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Milde's Tarantula-hawk Wasp
What is Milde's Tarantula-hawk Wasp?
Milde's Tarantula-hawk Wasp (Pepsis mildei) is a species in the family Pompilidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Milde's Tarantula-hawk Wasp?
Males may have antennae with the flagellum colored in varying amounts of orange and black. (BG images) Wing coloring may vary from solid-black to mostly-orange. ♂ ♀
What is the life cycle of a Milde's Tarantula-hawk Wasp?
Females with prey: