What Is a Tarantula Hawk Wasp? Everything We Know About the Bug Chrissy Teigen Was Holding

Chrissy Teigen shocked Instagram followers on Wednesday when she bravely rested a large bug on her arm in amusement for daughter, Luna. Teigen was informed by Twitter users that what she said was a "nice" bug was actually a tarantula hawk wasp, which has one of the most painful stings.

The tarantula hawk wasp is rated a four, the highest possible rating, on the Schmidt sting pain index. It sits alongside a bullet ant. In comparison, a yellow jacket sting is ranked at level two, according to BBC.

Biologist Ben Hutchins explained the stories he's heard about the extreme pain tarantula hawk wasps inflict on their victims to Wired in 2015.

"Their recommendation—and this was actually in a peer-reviewed journal—was to just lie down and start screaming, because of 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," Hutchins said. "So just lie down and start yelling."

The bug's name may be confusing. It's not a tarantula. It's a wasp who preys on tarantulas. The wasps can grow to be around 2.5 inches long, according to The Spruce. The female wasp will sting a live tarantula and lay an egg inside it. The stunned, but living, tarantula then becomes a feast for her larva.

The bugs can be found in desert environments on nearly every part of the earth, except Europe and Antarctica, according to the National Parks Service. In America, you're likely to encounter one at the Grand Canyon and in its surrounding areas.

Teigen explained the bug seemed harmless when she encountered it. She told her Twitter followers it was "one of the good ones," and came to the realization the bug may not have been harmless, Tweeting, "I think I just gently played with a hornet."

The video, which was originally posted on Teigen's Instagram Story and Twitter page, showed Teigen and daughter Luna talking about the bug. Luna then blew air kisses at the insect.

Teigen defended her parenting in a series of tweets. "Oh dear here comes the fun...okay should I not hold potentially deadly creatures?" the message began.

She ended the conversation with, "Anyhow bug and I are friends now."

Fans of Teigen jumped at the event with humor, one even posting an edited version of the tarantula hawk wasp Wikipedia page, which included Teigen's appearance with the insect. The page has since been reversed.