Beautiful spider wasp of the Northwest U.S. Closely related to the tarantula hawks (Pepsis and Hemipepsis), that I like to refer to it as the tarantula hawk of the Northwest. Actively hunts mygalomorph spiders (particularly Antrodiaetus pacificus) in late summer to provision its nest. If you live in its range, keep an eye out on smokey September afternoons for a glimpse of this wonderful species.
u/Complex-Two-8756 — 8 days ago