Worldwide distribution of tarantula hawks includes areas from India to Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, with the genus Pepsis entirely
restricted to the New World. In the latter, Pepsis species have been observed from as far north as Logan, Utah and south as far as Argentina, with at least 250 species living in South America.
Eighteen species of Pepsis and three species of Hemipepsis are found in the United States,
primarily in the deserts of the southwestern United States, with Pepsis grossa (formerly Pepsis formosa) and Pepsis thisbe being common.
The two species are difficult to distinguish, but the majority of P. grossa have metallic blue bodies and reddish antennae, which separates them from P.
thisbe. Both species have bright orange wings that become transparent near the tip.
Below is a map of the area's marked as stated above
The U.S. state of New Mexico chose a species of tarantula hawk (specifically, P. formosa, now known as P. grossa) in 1989 to become its official state insect.
Its selection was prompted by a group of elementary school children from Edgewood doing research on states that had adopted state insects.
They selected three insects as candidates and mailed ballots to all schools for a statewide election. The winner was the tarantula hawk wasp.