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Mammoth Wasp
Megascolia maculata flavifrons
42.6542, 18.1357
Field Notes
Description:
This solitary wasp is a huge bugger, some sources say the biggest wasp of Europe. To me, it ressemble a bigger hornet (some people who saw me photographing it though it was an Asian hornet...), mainly glossy black with characteristic and conspicuous four yellow spots on abdomen, and rusty brown head. The tip of abdomen is covered with rusty brown hairs. The female is bigger, and was about 5cm in length, male is smaller (pic No5), with longer antennae and black head.
Habitat:
Here seen on a rocky escarpment adjacent to a rocky beach; and covered in some grasses and Allium sp.
Notes:
The Mammoth wasp is connected to Rhinoceros beetle, and larvae parasites its grub and eat it from inside. In France, for its resemblance to hornets, it is sometimes said the species is in danger, and people are often warned not to kill them.
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