Comments on: Beware the flutter of orange wings http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/ musings, thoughts, and writings of Barbara W. Klaser Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:02:54 -0500 hourly 1 By: Bass http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-38776 Bass Mon, 05 Sep 2011 02:13:30 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-38776 Tarantula Hawks are mostly found in the southwest (California through west Texas) and are harmless and not aggressive toward humans unless you provoke them. If you do happen to get stung, wash the area, apply an antibiotic ointment, ice it, take some acetaminophen or ibuprofen to cut down the pain and swelling, and keep an eye on it. If the swollen/red area gets larger than 8" then you're having an allergic reaction and need to get to a doctor. It'll hurt like the dickens for anywhere between 3 minutes to an hour but the site may be sensitive for up to 4 days after being stung. Tarantula Hawks are mostly found in the southwest (California through west Texas) and are harmless and not aggressive toward humans unless you provoke them. If you do happen to get stung, wash the area, apply an antibiotic ointment, ice it, take some acetaminophen or ibuprofen to cut down the pain and swelling, and keep an eye on it. If the swollen/red area gets larger than 8″ then you’re having an allergic reaction and need to get to a doctor. It’ll hurt like the dickens for anywhere between 3 minutes to an hour but the site may be sensitive for up to 4 days after being stung.

]]> By: Mel http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-38562 Mel Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:01:01 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-38562 I've killed two by stepping on them. Ugly things. Good to know they sting and that it hurts. Are they poisonous? What is the treatment if stung? I’ve killed two by stepping on them. Ugly things. Good to know they sting and that it hurts. Are they poisonous? What is the treatment if stung?

]]> By: Sophie http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-38556 Sophie Sun, 26 Jun 2011 03:38:25 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-38556 OMG! I just saw one in my yard yesterday and wondered what type of insect it was. My dog was chasing it around and really scared me. I had never seen one of these either. Now that I know what it is and how painful the sting, I will definitely stay away from it. Kudos to those of you who catch them. Thanks for the info! OMG! I just saw one in my yard yesterday and wondered what type of insect it was. My dog was chasing it around and really scared me. I had never seen one of these either. Now that I know what it is and how painful the sting, I will definitely stay away from it. Kudos to those of you who catch them. Thanks for the info!

]]> By: zee http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-38550 zee Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:55:12 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-38550 Can they be found in Florida near the ocean...where tarantulas don't exist? Can they be found in Florida near the ocean…where tarantulas don’t exist?

]]> By: Michael Gentis http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-35718 Michael Gentis Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:41:21 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-35718 I live in Sonora, Ca. which is about 1 1/2 hours northwest of Yosemite in the Sierra foothills. I just found one of these narley little suckers laying dead on the street and wondered "what in the heck is this thing?" Well I got on the computer and found out it`s a Tarantula Hawk. I`m glad I didn`t get stung by this prehistoric looking tactical attack buzzard. Well, that may be taking it a little too far but man, this thing looks like it was made to do some damage. I suspect however, its probably more docile than it looks, unless you happen to be a tarantula. I wonder if there`s any money in breeding these things? lol I live in Sonora, Ca. which is about 1 1/2 hours northwest of Yosemite in the Sierra foothills. I just found one of these narley little suckers laying dead on the street and wondered “what in the heck is this thing?” Well I got on the computer and found out it`s a Tarantula Hawk. I`m glad I didn`t get stung by this prehistoric looking tactical attack buzzard. Well, that may be taking it a little too far but man, this thing looks like it was made to do some damage. I suspect however, its probably more docile than it looks, unless you happen to be a tarantula. I wonder if there`s any money in breeding these things? lol

]]> By: Marie Touitou http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-35635 Marie Touitou Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:07:12 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-35635 Barbara, I came across your blog when I Googled big black bug with orange wings. Thanks to you I now know it is a tarantula hawk. I'm surprised I haven't seen more of them since we have so many tarantulas here we have a festival for them in October. Marie Coarsegold, CA Barbara, I came across your blog when I Googled big black bug with orange wings. Thanks to you I now know it is a tarantula hawk. I’m surprised I haven’t seen more of them since we have so many tarantulas here we have a festival for them in October.

Marie
Coarsegold, CA

]]> By: Mister B http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-35097 Mister B Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:58:20 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-35097 Stung on the thumb while trying to remove one from the kitchen, what an instant pain I received. Thumb still bothers me three days after the sting. Dumb Thumb won't do that again. Lots of them flying around here in the San Pedero Valley. Benson AZ. (Desert Willow's are in full Bloom) Stung on the thumb while trying to remove one from the kitchen, what an
instant pain I received. Thumb still bothers me three days after the sting. Dumb Thumb won’t do that again. Lots of them flying around here
in the San Pedero Valley. Benson AZ. (Desert Willow’s are in full Bloom)

]]> By: Pamela Simpson http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-35022 Pamela Simpson Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:17:10 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-35022 I just saw one on a golf course here in Goodyear, Az. When I saw this thing it really caught my eye because it was walking and really big. When I saw it had wings which were reddish orange then I was really scared because I was walking. It didn't seem like it really wanted to fly. It flitted it's wings and came off the ground a few inches, that is when I really saw the color. I explained to a friend that it was black and 20 times bigger than a wasp. I am on this page because I was trying to find out what that bug was! I would never try catching it!!!!!! I just saw one on a golf course here in Goodyear, Az. When I saw this thing it really caught my eye because it was walking and really big. When I saw it had wings which were reddish orange then I was really scared because I was walking. It didn’t seem like it really wanted to fly. It flitted it’s wings and came off the ground a few inches, that is when I really saw the color. I explained to a friend that it was black and 20 times bigger than a wasp. I am on this page because I was trying to find out what that bug was! I would never try catching it!!!!!!

]]> By: Connie http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-25677 Connie Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:45:27 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-25677 My 22 yr. old grand daughter was raking up leaves in the planter and unearthed a dead male tarantula hawk today. I've heard of them, but have never seen one before. I guess it was a male. It had smaller antaena without the curl. About 15 yrs. ago my husband was on his 2 week annual stint with the CA National Guard out in the Death Valley area and was stung by one. He said it was unbelievably painful. The one we found today is beautiful. Looks like a huge horsefly with reddish orange wings. My 22 yr. old grand daughter was raking up leaves in the planter and
unearthed a dead male tarantula hawk today. I’ve heard of them, but
have never seen one before. I guess it was a male. It had smaller
antaena without the curl. About 15 yrs. ago my husband was on his 2
week annual stint with the CA National Guard out in the Death Valley
area and was stung by one. He said it was unbelievably painful. The
one we found today is beautiful. Looks like a huge horsefly with
reddish orange wings.

]]> By: chelley http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/06/23/beware-the-flutter-of-orange-wings/comment-page-1/#comment-14485 chelley Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:01:34 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=334#comment-14485 One of these just landed on my blanket while watching tv. I freaked!!! Once we got it in a jar, I went straight to the internet. The strange thing, it seems, is that I live in Washington. Is this a normal habitat for these things? I've never seen one before and I hope I never do. I'm a little freaked out that they prey on trantulas...hope I never see one of those either. If anyone has any information about this, please let me know. One of these just landed on my blanket while watching tv. I freaked!!! Once we got it in a jar, I went straight to the internet. The strange thing, it seems, is that I live in Washington. Is this a normal habitat for these things? I’ve never seen one before and I hope I never do. I’m a little freaked out that they prey on trantulas…hope I never see one of those either. If anyone has any information about this, please let me know.

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