On June 18, 2004 I was out in the Calico Basin just east of Red Rock Canyon to photograph a hot spring that I had heard about. After about an hour of hiking, I found the hot spring. It was basically a 2 foot bubbling puddle of mud. Not worthy of a photo, but an interesting geological phenomena.
As I was making my way back to my car, I spotted something flying around a tree that I had used as a way point. Moving closer (about 10 yards away), I saw a whole bunch of the somethings flying around the tree, with an audible buzzing sound. The tree was around 20 feet tall, and the flying buzzing things were about 3 inches long. Being smarter than the average bear, I slipped my ever present telephoto lens on my camera and zoomed in for a closer look. The attached photos show you what I spotted.
I see your “Murder Hornet” and raise you the “Tarantula Hawk.” (Google them.) They are so named because they sting a tarantula, which paralyzes it, then they lay eggs on the spider. The larvae then use the tarantula for sustenance.
With regards to humans, they are no more dangerous than a bee sting, and only to be of concern if you are allergic.
BUT.. it is the second most painful sting known to man. (I guess in 2020 we’ll say “for now.”) The official medical advice if you’re stung, is to lay down and scream. The idea is to prevent you from running/flailing about amongst the pointy rocks of the desert where you could give yourself a far more serious injury. The pain allegedly only last for a few minutes, and you’re generally wiser, but no worse for the wear. I, of course, learned all of this in the days after these things popping up between me and my car.
So, after taking a series of award worthy photos (if I do say so myself), I considered the path back to my car and thought, fuck that! The car is still out there, if you can find it, I’ll send you the keys.
Ok, that’s not entirely true. I decided to give these things a very wide berth, especially considering the fact that they can fly, and moved away from the tree. I did my best to keep the tree at least 50 yards away, but still in view, as I hiked a wide circle back to my car.
I never encountered them again in all my time in the desert.
Jim Says: Click to Enlarge. (Always good advice.)
