Megascolia maculata flavifrons

Megascolia maculata flavifrons

The mammoth wasp, Megascolia maculata flavifrons, is a very large wasp (the largest in Europe), with the female reaching up to 6 centimetres (2.4 in), whereas the male is smaller. The species can be seen in warm weather, from May to September.
Megascolia maculata Megascolia maculata, male, dorsal view Hymenoptera,Mammoth wasp,Megascolia maculata,Megascolia maculata flavifrons,apocrita,arthropoda,biodiversity,insects,mamooth wasp,wasps

Behavior

Mammoth wasps are parasitic of the European rhinoceros beetle larva, since the female mammoth wasp stings the larva to paralyze it, and then lays one egg in its outer skin. The egg will then hatch and the mammoth wasp larva will feed on its host, until it is able to build a cocoon and develop into an adult mammoth wasp. It will stay in the cocoon over winter, and will emerge only in spring.
Mammoth_Wasp Fall,Geotagged,Greece,Mammoth wasp,Megascolia maculata flavifrons

Food

This species feeds on flower nectar.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderHymenoptera
FamilyScoliidae
GenusMegascolia
SpeciesMegascolia maculata flavifrons
Photographed in
Greece
Portugal