This is a very large solitary wasp, the female reaching up to 4.5cm whereas the male is a little smaller. This species appears in warm weather during late May, June, July and August. They hold no danger to humans despite their size and black / yellow warning colours. (Above image Megascolia bidens)
They feed eagerly on flower nectar and this is the best time to view them.
Megascolia flavifrons male and female examples
Left: Female showing yellow head Right: Male, note long antennae
The larger female can be told apart by her yellow face and short antennae. The male has a black head and longer antennae. Both have two yellow bands on their abdomens which can sometimes be divided to form 4 spots, which is more evident on the female in these pictures.
You may see several of these wasps flying around decaying tree stumps, they have a purpose here. They are searching for larvae of a particular beetle.
Inside the rotten wood may be young of the Rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicornis). The female Mammoth wasp, once she has discovered the huge larvae, will sting one to paralyze it and then lay her egg on the outer skin.
On hatching, the larvae of the Mammoth wasp will eat into its host thereby killing it. The larva of the wasp then creates a cocoon near to the meal remains. It will stay in this cocoon over winter and hatch out once the spring weather warms sufficiently.
Family: Scoliidae
- Scientific name: Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata flavifrons (Fabricius 1775)
- Also accepted as Scolia flavifrons
There are several very similar species within Iberia, including:
- Megascolia bidens – always has coloured antennae, either reddish or yellow.
Other mammoth wasps
- Scolia erythrocephala – has more than two yellow bands
- Scolia hirta – two yellow bands and a violet tinge on wings
- Scolia hortorum
- Scolia sexmaculata – has six yellow spots
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Clive Muir – Wildside Holidays – Walking, wildlife and culture holidays in Spain
I’ve been living in western Andalucía for more than 20 years and spend much of my time researching and running English-language travel websites about Spain. My work covers destinations including Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema and the Caminito del Rey, as well as Wildside Holidays, which focuses on walking, wildlife and nature travel in Spain.
Through Wildside Holidays, I share practical information about Spain’s natural parks, mountains, wildlife and walking destinations, drawing on many years of living and travelling in the country. The aim is to help visitors discover Spain’s natural landscapes responsibly and plan rewarding walking and wildlife experiences.