Likely Pomplid wasps (a.k.a. Pompilidae or spider wasp family). Some sample photos and common names here: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2488&context=insectamundi <https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2488&context=insectamundi>
My personal favorite (from my years in the desert southwest): the tarantula hawk. Very BIG with a VERY painful sting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha2LR3J5YDg (not sure why Wired did an overview, but maybe b/c they are crazy big, scary looking, and one of the most beautifully wonderful wasps on earth?) In any case they all basically do the same thing (although the ones I know well typically drag their victims into burrows, not into the eaves of homes): they paralyze the spider, drag it into a hole, and lay an egg on/in them. The larvae then eat the spider from least important parts first to most important parts last (to keep them alive as long as possible). Send a photo or I can send my budding entomologists over to ID them :-) Carl 22 TPR > > On Sep 3, 2023, at 17:19, Rob <[email protected]> wrote: > > I just saw two wasps dragging rather large spiders up the side of my house. > The stuff of nightmares. What are they? > > Rob 15 TPR > > Sent from my iPhone > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
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