Only attempt to kill the tarantula hawk wasp at night, as this is when they are inactive and in their nest.

What are tarantula hawks good for?

These wasps pack a powerful punch especially if you're a tarantula. Gardeners have to deal with a variety of garden insects, pests, and beneficial species alike.

What happens if you kill a tarantula hawk?

Aggravated tarantula hawks will sting you, and the sting measures four out of four on the Schmidt pain scale, according to University of Arizona entomologist John Schmidt, who describes it as, "blinding, shockingly electric." If you live in the Southwest and have tarantulas, you likely have unsightly tarantula-wasp ...