Photo: Flickr/Brian Van de Wetering

The tarantula hawk is an extra-large wasp (as large as two to three inches in length) whose larvae feed on tarantulas. Strikingly handsome with orange wings and blue-black bodies, tarantula hawks are ranked as having one of the most painful insect stings in the world. So, while they might look unassuming, they pack a punch.

According to Ben Hutchins of Texas Parks and Wildlife, “There are some vivid descriptions of people getting stung by these things, and their recommendation was to just lie down and start screaming, because few if any people could maintain verbal and physical coordination after getting stung by one of these things. You’re likely to just run off and hurt yourself. So just lie down and start yelling.”