tarantula killer

noun

Any species of tarantula hawk, especially (Pepsis grossa) that captures the Texas brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzii) and places it in its nest as food for its young, after paralyzing it by a sting.

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Meanings

nountarantula killer (plural tarantula killers)

plural tarantula killers

  1. archaicAny species of tarantula hawk, especially (Pepsis grossa) that captures the Texas brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzii) and places it in its nest as food for its young, after paralyzing it by a sting.
Cite this entry
APA

tarantula killer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tarantula%20killer

MLA

“tarantula killer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tarantula%20killer. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tarantula killer,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tarantula%20killer.

Source: tarantula killer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.