Ground Wasp, Giant

Black and yellow stripes cover this winged insect's bulbous abdomen, which ends in a dagger-sized stinger.

Ground Wasp, Giant (CR 4)

Small Vermin
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +4
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +4

Speed: 20 feet, Burrow 10 feet, Fly 40 feet (average)
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 17, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)
Hit Points: 39 (6d8+12)
Saving Throws: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +2
Immunity: mind-affecting effects

Offense

Melee: bite +7 (1d6+2), sting +7 (1d4+2 plus poison)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: implant, poison

Spells Known (CL 8th, +8 ranged touch):

• 4th (5/day) - Invisibility, Greater
  
  
• 3rd (5/day) - Dispel Magic, Fireball (DC 21), Vampiric Touch
  
  
• 2nd (8/day) - False Life, Invisibility, Scorching Ray, Web (DC 20)
  
  
• 1st (8/day) - Burning Hands (DC 19), Chill Touch (DC 19), Disguise Self, Expeditious Retreat, Mage Armor, Magic Missile
  
  
• 0-Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Open/Close, Read Magic

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
15 (+2)	19 (+4)	15 (+2)	-	10 (+0)	2 (-4)

Base Attack Bonus: +4
CMB +5
CMD 19 (27 vs. Trip)

Feats:

Skills: Fly +6, Perception +4

• Racial Modifiers: +4 Perception

Languages:

Special Abilities

Implant (Ex)

Ground wasps grow their eggs inside of a living host. Implanting eggs in a host is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, and the target must be helpless but alive. Once an egg is implanted, it exudes paralytic enzymes that not only keep the victim in a state of perpetual paralysis, but also keep it nourished and alive- and fully aware. This condition lasts until the egg hatches 1d6 days later, at which point the larvae consume most of the host, killing it. Any magical effect that removes paralysis or disease (such as remove paralysis, remove disease, or heal) destroys the eggs, but mere immunity to paralysis or disease does not offer protection.

Poison (Ex)

Sting-injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Warm Desert
Organization: solitary or hive (2-20)
Treasure: none


In areas of dense vegetation, ground wasps can destroy crops and ruin the land with their burrows, but in the rocky and sandy desert, living creatures are most at risk from these dangerous vermin. The blistering heat of the desert can damage delicate eggs laid in exposed locations, so ground wasps have evolved to lay their eggs safely in the bodies of their victims.

They keep to their shallow burrows during the hottest parts of the day, but remain near the opening to ambush creatures that wander near. A fully-grown ground wasp is 2 feet long, with a wingspan of 5 feet, and weighs 22 pounds.