Sociality in spiders is quite rare, but a new species found in Madagascar takes it a step further. Isoxya manangona kite spiders build large colonies of webs, all connected by a central silk line where multiple adult males gather harmoniously. Researchers suggest the males could be "lekking," gathering in a group to perform mating displays for females, a behavior never before seen in spiders.
In this article, I will look at the main differences between wasps vs hornets, and how to identify each of them.
It’s easy to confuse wasps and hornets with each other based on their general appearance, and indeed, the two are very similar.
Both of them belong to the same insect family, predate on smaller insects, and are commonly feared for their painful stings.
However, while all hornets are wasps, not all wasps count as hornets.
They differ from other species of wasps in several ways, including their appearance and behavior and nesting habits.
So, if you’re curious about the difference between hornet species and other wasps, let’s dive into it right away.
Fine-Backed Red Paper Wasp
What Are Wasps?
Mostly classified in the Vespidae family, wasps are a group of narrow-waisted, flying, and stinging insects.
Some species of wasps belong to other families, but they’re all grouped under the suborder.
Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera, the same suborder same as all types of bees and ants.
To put it simply, any insect belonging to the suborder Apocrita that can’t be classified as a bee or an ant is a wasp.
There are more than 100,000 species of wasps spread across the world. You’re likely familiar with some of them already, especially the ones with bright colors.
Paper wasps are among the most common wasps that you’d find in the US, identifiable by their black and yellow stripes.
Yellow jackets are a very common type too, and easily one of the most feared wasps out there. Other common wasp species include spider wasps and mud daubers.
European Hornet
What Are Hornets?
Hornets are a subspecies of wasps, classified under the Vespidae like most of them.
These social insects typically live in colonies, building themselves hives out of wood pulp.
Though mostly native to Eurasia, hornets can be found in North America and Africa too.
Though hornets are very common, they account for only a small fraction of wasp species globally.
Around 20 species of hornets have been identified so far, among which the giant hornet and bald-faced hornets and European hornets deserve special mention.
Hornets can also be considered to be gardener’s friends. Preying on a variety of common garden pests, they help with natural pest control.
However, they might potentially pose a danger to humans depending on the location of their nest.
Wasp
Differences Between Wasps vs. Hornets
Now that you have a better understanding of wasps and hornets let’s compare the two and check out the key differences.
For the sake of convenience, I’ll be referring to the other species of wasps as simply wasps.
Appearance
This is the most important difference between hornets and wasps as far as identification is concerned.
Wasps are commonly identified by their slender bodies and narrow waists.
Some species have such thin waists that it’s a wonder that they can support the weight of the abdomen.
Hornets, on the contrary, are thicker and rounder near the abdomen and midsection. It’s hard to mix up the waist of a wasp with that of a hornet.
While most wasps range between 0.25 inch to 1 inch in length, hornets are much larger. The Asian giant hornet, for instance, can reach a length of 2 inches.
Though hornets carry bright colors like yellow and orange too, wasps are typically brighter.
Bald Faced Hornet
Ability To Sting
Both wasps and hornets are stinging insects. Unlike bees, they don’t die after stinging and can sting multiple times.
As the stinger is a female reproductive organ (the ovipositor, to be precise), only female stinging wasps and hornets have it.
The venomousness varies a lot from one species to another, but hornet stings are generally more painful due to the high acetylcholine content.
Hornets use neurotoxins to paralyze or kill their prey.
Although they aren’t potent enough to kill humans, they can be fatal in rare cases of intense allergic reactions.
Getting attacked by a swarm of angry hornets can be deadly too.
Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fear wasp stings. They’re feared for a reason. Some wasp species, such as the yellow jacket wasps, can be quite dangerous in this regard.
What They Eat
Moving on, let’s compare their dietary needs and preferences. Both wasps and hornets are omnivorous, and some species rely entirely on a carnivorous diet for the early part of their life.
The diet can vary significantly from one type of wasp to another.
While some species of wasps sustain themselves entirely on nectar, predatory wasps are there too. Some wasp species might also be scavengers.
Adult hornets, on the other hand, mostly stick to plant matter to fulfill their dietary requirements.
They tend to show a preference towards sweet substances, like rotten fruits, plant sap, nectar, and even processed sugary foods and drinks.
Many species of wasps and hornets are parasitoid, i.e., they feed and grow on the bodies of other insects as larvae.
The adults hunt these insects, usually paralyzing them with a neurotoxin. They drag the prey into the nest and lay eggs in their bodies.
When the eggs hatch, the newborn wasp/hornet larvae feed on the prey till they are ready to pupate, eventually killing them.
This is how adult wasps and hornets help with pest control, even if they rely on a completely plant-based diet themselves.
Pleasant Hornet Moth
Life Cycle
There isn’t much difference in the life cycle of social wasps and hornets.
The queens mate in autumn and survive the winter by hibernating in the bark of trees, soil, or rotten wood. The males, however, die soon after mating.
The worker wasps/hornets gradually die off during the winter. There’s a common misconception that they don’t survive due to the low temperatures.
However, it’s the scarcity of food that kills them. Of the entire colony, only the queen survives to see the spring.
The queen comes out of hibernation in spring and lays its eggs somewhere suitable.
The parasitoid wasps lay them in the body of a paralyzed prey, as I explained earlier.
It takes five to eight days for the eggs to hatch.
Over the next two weeks or so, the larvae grow and develop through five molting stages.
This is followed by pupation, which lasts for another 13 to 15 days. At the end of this stage, fully developed wasps/hornets emerge.
The new wasps start taking care of the queen again, and the latter no longer has to forage for food.
Eventually, new queens and drones are born too, and the workers start tending to them, ignoring the old queen. At this point, the old queen leaves the nest and dies.
For solitary wasps, however, the life cycle is much shorter. They’re active as adults for only a few weeks – most of their lifespan is spent as eggs, larvae, or pupae.
Wasp Nest
Behavior
Both these species are known to aggressively attack and sting humans, which is why they’re so feared.
However, wasps are more aggressive in general. This is possibly due to their affinity to human foods – they end up close to people and attack if they feel provoked.
Hornets are relatively more placid and keep to themselves, but they can be much more aggressive than wasps when threatened.
There’s a reason why “stirring up a hornet’s nest” is used as a figure of speech, after all.
Hornets won’t attack you unless you disturb their nest and pose a threat, but if you do, you might suffer a potentially deadly attack.
Social vs. Solitary
Now, this is a major difference between the two. Wasps can be both social or solitary, depending on the species.
Though they are commonly known to live in hives, there are only 700 social wasp species in the world.
Compared to the total number of wasp species, that’s a rather meager number.
Hornets, however, are social insects. They build their nests using a paper-like substance created from wood fibers.
They make it by chewing on wood and using their saliva to turn it into pulp. Paper wasp nests are similar too, which is how these wasps get their name.
Hornets are found in underground nests, nests built among tree branches or shrubbery, and even wall voids.
The same goes for wasps, but solitary wasps naturally need much smaller nests than hornets.
European Hornet
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is worse, a wasp sting or hornet?
Both wasps and hornets are stinging insects that can sting multiple times, as they don’t die after stinging.
Only female wasps and hornets have stingers as the stingers are actually the female reproductive organ for depositing their eggs.
Hornet stings are generally more painful due to the high acetylcholine content.
Hornets use neurotoxins to paralyze or kill their prey, which can be fatal in rare cases of intense allergic reactions.
Yellow jacket wasps can also be dangerous due to their stings.
Does a hornet leave a stinger?
No, a hornet does not leave a stinger in the skin when it stings.
Hornets have smooth stingers, unlike bees. They can sting multiple times without their stinger becoming stuck in the skin.
The venom from a hornet sting can be very potent. It can cause a lot more pain and swelling than a bee sting.
If you are allergic to insect stings or if you were stung multiple times, it is important to get a doctor to see you immediately.
As I mentioned earlier, there are neurotoxins in a hornet’s sting that can cause intense reactions.
How many times can a wasp sting?
A wasp can sting multiple times as it does not lose its stinger after stinging like a bee.
Unlike bees, wasp stingers are smooth and can easily penetrate the skin.
A wasp sting causes pain, swelling, and sometimes allergic reactions as well.
Unlike bees, wasps are more aggressive and tend to sting repeatedly, especially when they feel threatened, or their nests are disturbed.
Don’t get too close to wasps, and take precautions to prevent stings, such as wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent.
What happens if you get bitten by a hornet?
The area around the sting may have pain, redness, swelling, and itching.
Some people might experience an allergic reaction, which can cause symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, throat swelling, and heart palpitations.
In severe cases, you might experience anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention.
To treat a hornet sting, wash the area with soap and water, and apply a cold compress. If you experience any of the signs of an allergic reaction, seek medical attention right away.
Wrapping up
Now that you know the key differences between hornets and other species of wasps, you should note that true hornets and other wasps can be extremely similar in some cases.
However, you may rest assured about one thing – neither is particularly dangerous unless provoked.
All wasps and hornets are beneficial insects – even the ones that don’t kill hunt pests help with pollination.
So, unless you have a hornet nest dangerously close to people, consider leaving it be.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you found this article insightful.
Reader Emails
Wasps and hornets may be from the same family, but their differences make them uniquely perceived from each other.
Over the years, we have had several emails trying to understand the differences and similarities between the two.
Larvae of the southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) fared well in a new study when fed a diet of corn or pine pollen. The findings suggest corn pollen could help the species— key vector of West Nile virus in the U.S.—thrive in habitats near agricultural areas.
Graphical abstracts are increasingly vital to research publishing, but many entomologists have not been trained in creating them. Learn the fundamentals of graphical abstracts and get some advice from experts in this recap of a workshop hosted by the ESA Student Affairs Committee at the 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of ESA, ESC, and ESBC.
Did you find a huge wasp in your yard and are afraid of it? Don’t worry; it is likely the mammoth wasp. We will share all the necessary details about this wasp in the article below.
When you think of wasps, you probably picture the small, black, and yellow insects that buzz around your picnic table.
But did you know that there is a species of wasp that is almost as big as your hand?
That’s right; Mammoth wasps can grow up to nearly two inches long!
They are found in various parts of the world, including North and South America, Africa, and Asia.
Despite their intimidating size, mammoth wasps are actually fascinating creatures that play an important role in their ecosystems.
In this article, we will explore the unique characteristics and behaviors of these giant insects.
What Are Mammoth Wasps?
The mammoth wasps are the largest wasp species in the European region. They are also known as Megascolia maculate.
These giant wasps belong to the Scolidae family of insects.
Mammoth wasp sightings are most common during warmer weather. May to August is a good time to spot them flying around flowers, seeking nectar.
Also, these species of wasps are not social. They are solitary and unlikely to be seen in a group.
Let us look at a few details to help you identify these wasps.
What Does A Mammoth Wasp Eat?
Mammoth wasps can have a body length of up to 1.77 inches body length. The female wasps are comparatively bigger than the male adult wasps.
They can be identified by the striking orange-red, yellow heads with fine bristly hair and black body.
They have huge mandibles and some bright yellow spots in the abdomen.
At times these black wasps can be confused with the hairy flower wasp (Scolia Hirta). The former is comparatively larger in size. Also, the flower wasps have a black-colored head!
As for their diet is concerned, the mammoth beetles consume nectar from flowers.
The females hunt the grubs of Rhino beetle grubs to lay the eggs(this will be discussed in detail in upcoming sections).
Mammoth Wasp
Where Do Mammoth Wasps Live?
Mammoth wasps are mostly found in various parts of Hungary, and southern Europe, including the Czech Republic; They prefer to be around warm and dry places.
Since they are parasitic wasps, they rely on rhino beetle grubs to develop. The female mammoth wasps track a rhino beetle grub to lay eggs inside its skin.
Hence, they frequently visit spots like decayed logs, tree stumps in the ground, and more to search for the hosts.
You can also find them flying around nectar-rich flowers like Dwarf Elderberry, Field Eryngo, White Horehound, etc.
Life Cycle of A Mammoth Wasp
The mammoth wasp life cycle occurs in four stages: The eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult stage.
Being solitary and parasitic, the female starts searching for a suitable host to lay the eggs after mating.
They usually go for the Rhinoceros beetle larva. In some cases, the females target other beetle species like stag beetles, Polyphylla Fullo, and more.
The female searches for spots like decaying wood and digs into them to track the host larvae.
On tracking the host, she uses her sting to paralyze the host. Once that is done, she carefully lays an egg inside the skin of the rhino beetle larva.
On hatching, the wasp larvae consume the host from the outside.
Once these larvae eat the host entirely, they get big enough to start pupating.
Here they start weaving a reddish cocoon around the body. They stay inside the cocoon throughout the winter before emerging as adult wasps with beautiful yellow bands from the soil in spring.
After emerging as adults, they start visiting various flowers in search of nectar and mates to repeat the same cycle.
Interestingly, the male wasps hatch a little earlier than the females and usually fly to heights of 19-59 inches in search of female mates.
Mammoth Wasp
How Long Do Mammoth Wasps Live?
As mentioned earlier, mammoth wasps live longer as a larva and pupas.
They stay in the pupal stage throughout the winter and emerge during spring.
Adult wasps do not live for long. They are not able to survive the winter and usually die before the season arrives.
Also, out in the wild, these insects are hunted down by predators like birds.
Do They Bite?
Yes, mammoth wasps have stingers, and they can sting humans.
But these stinging insects are not aggressive toward humans and will not attack unless they are threatened.
They use stingers to paralyze host species like rhino beetle larvae.
However, you must not be reckless and manhandle them.
Are They Poisonous/Venomous?
Mammoth wasps do not use their stingers to inflict pain on humans.
Also, these are entirely harmless and are not poisonous. But they will sting if you try to manhandle or threaten them.
If you spot a mammoth wasp, watch it from a distance and do not try to touch it.
Are They Harmful or Beneficial to Humans?
Due to their intimidating size and appearance, people consider them dangerous, but they are not.
These insects are beneficial to humans as they promote cross-pollination. Being active consumers of nectar, they fall on flowers like milkweed, hollyhock, lavender, silk plant, and more.
Doing so helps to transfer the pollens across various regions. Also, they can help get rid of rhino beetle larvae living in decaying wood.
Female Mammoth Wasp
How To Get Rid of Mammoth Wasps?
Mammoth wasps may look gigantic and scary, but they are gentle creatures who will not harm humans unless they are threatened.
There is no need to exterminate the mammoth wasp population near your home.
However, you can avoid these appearances by making sure that there are no pieces of decaying wood near your house.
These spots are ideal for rhino beetle larvae. The females will get attracted to them.
Also, they are particularly attracted to flowering plants like milkweed, hollyhock, lavender, silk plant, and more. Limit the number of such plants in your garden to keep the mammoth wasps away.
Interesting Facts About Mammoth Wasps
Mammoth wasps are fascinating creatures, and the sections above contain all the necessary information that you need to identify and understand these giant insects.
Here are a few interesting facts about mammoth wasps that you might have missed in this article:
The female mammoth wasps are comparatively bigger than the male wasps. These females have short antennae and yellow faces, while males have longer antennae and black faces.
Male wasps emerge earlier than females as adults. These males can fly up to 19-59 inches in search of female mates.
The female wasps get ready for mating soon after emerging from the pupa in spring.
When the larvae build a cocoon around themselves, the remains of the host stay near the cocoon.
Female Mammoth Wasp
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the mammoth wasp dangerous?
Yes, the mammoth wasp can be dangerous. They are known for their large size and powerful stingers, which can cause pain, swelling, and even allergic reactions in some people.
However, mammoth wasps are not typically aggressive toward humans and will only sting if they feel threatened or provoked.
It is important to exercise caution around these insects and avoid disturbing their nests or habitats.
If you encounter a mammoth wasp, it is best to move away slowly and give them plenty of space.
Is the mammoth wasp sting painful?
Mammoth wasps can sting but they don’t do it on purpose. If you get stung, it is likely to cause a bit of redness and swelling that might remain for a few days.
Keep in mind that mammoth wasps only sting when it is absolutely necessary. They won’t go out of their way to seek you out for stinging.
Hence, if you see this large wasp in your garden or yard, please do not try to attack it. It will not come to bite you any way.
How did mammoth wasps get their name?
Mammoth wasps got their name due to their large size and intimidating appearance. can grow up to 1.77 inches in length.
The term “mammoth” is often used to describe things that are very large or impressive, and the name “mammoth wasp” is fitting for these formidable insects.
Despite their name and appearance, mammoth wasps are an important part of their ecosystem and play a role in controlling other insect populations.
Can mammoth wasps survive winter?
Mammoth wasps usually do not survive the winter. They can live in a variety of environments, but during the winter, they do not get the food and water necessary to survive.
As pupae, they can overwinter – which is why they live longer in that stage of their lives rather than as adults.
Wrap Up
Mammoth wasps are the largest wasp species in Europe. These insects are known for their giant size and intimidating appearance.
They are abundant in regions of Hungary and Southern Europe. You can also find them in various regions of North America.
Despite the scary features, these insects are not aggressive to humans and are non-poisonous.
To keep them away from your house, you can eliminate decaying logs and flower plants like lavender, silk plant, and more.
Remember to not be reckless around as they can deliver painful stings. Thank you for reading the article.
Reader Emails
The giant-sized mammoth wasps cause a lot of interest in all those who encounter them.
We can see this in the hordes of letters that we have got from our regular readers asking questions about this wasp.
Please go through some of the letters, many of them sent over the years to us, along with some beautiful pictures of this wasp in its natural environment.
Letter 1 – Mammoth Wasp from Italy
gigantic bee/ wasp. Makes a hornet look small July 29, 2009 Hi, heres a good one for you, I do a lot of macro insect photography and have seen lots of bugs over the years, but after a single sighting whilst on holiday in italy (I’m from the UK) and hours of fruitless internet digging I’ve had no luck identifying this beast. It had a body length of over 2″ (no kidding!) and distinctive markings (see pictures). It made the local european hornets (plently of them) look small. It spent most of its time on the ground with short flights between plants. I dont have any extreme closeups since I didnt want my head any closer to it!! Shots with canon 100mm f2.8 macro and 5D MKII. Hopefully you can shed some light on this! David Lewis Tuscany, Italy
Mammoth WaspHi David, We have just secured the funding to purchase several Canon 5D cameras for our photography program at LACC. We were struck by the similarities between your wasp and a North American species, Scolia nobilitata which may be viewed on BugGuide. Armed with that information, we searched Scolia and Italy and were led to a photo of Scolia flavifrons, the Mammoth Wasp, on TrekNature. Then we found more images with the name Megascolia maculata flavifrons, obviously a synonym. Continued searching led ut to the Wildside Holidays website that includes this information: “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. They feed eagerly on flower nectar and this is the best time to view them. 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) [See image below]. 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.” Because of the yellow face, your specimen is a female.Mammoth Wasp
Letter 2 – Mammoth Wasp from Sicily
Huge Sicilian wasp August 12, 2009 Hi experts, I’m hoping you’ll be able to tell me what this beast is. I’ve only seen it dead as I fished it out of a pool in Western Sicily a couple of weeks ago and in any case I don’t think I’d have dared get close to it alive. Apologies for the quality, I only had my phone by way of camera and it began to stink and was covered in ants after an hour out of the pool so I had to abandon it. The body was smooth and hairless like a wasp’s but the abdomen ended bluntly instead of in the typical tapered point. There was a brown ovipositor or sting sticking out, almost a millimeter thick. Rizla packet included for scale. The bug was almost 2 inches in length / across the wingspan. I’m hoping you’ll tell me it was a wasp as I’ve been scaring friends with the picture ever since! Many thanks. Steve Lawson Paceco, Western Sicily
Mammoth WaspHi Steve, Just two weeks ago, we posted some photos of a Mammoth Wasp, Scolia flavifrons, from Italy. Here is information we found from the Wildside Holidays website: “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. They feed eagerly on flower nectar and this is the best time to view them. 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) [See image below]. 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.“
Letter 3 – Mammoth Wasp with Phoretic Mites from Iraq
Wasp Location: Baghdad, Iraq May 19, 2011 1:55 am These large ”wasps” (?) are quite common over here. I found this one dying today so… I’d like to know the species AND I’m really curious about the apparent parasite infestation it is suffering from. They look like ticks of some sort. Thanks! Signature: Phil Monroe
Mammoth Wasp with Phoretic MitesDear Phil, We stumbled a bit on this but eventually we found the identity of your Flower Wasp in the family Scoliidae. We based that initial search on the robust size and hairy legs of this magnificent creature. According to BugGuide, the best source for well organized insect identification of North American species, Flower Wasps can be identified by as being: “Robust wasps, medium-sized to large. … Bodies hairy… Usually dark-colored, often with light marks (yellow or white) on abdomen.” The web search then provided a BioLib link and we immediately landed on a nice composite image of Megascolia maculata maculata. The yellow head on your individual indicates she is female. Elsewhere on BioLib, a page with images of living individuals contains this description “Abdominal apex with red pubescence” and that is supported in your photograph with the scaled ruler. A Cretan website indicates that it “is the largest European solitary wasp” and the author writes “It doesn’t seem to be a very rare insect but I had never seen one close-up before. Females will find, paralyze with their sting and then lay their eggs in larvae of large beetles (such as dung beetle and rhinoceros beetle). Upon hatching the wasp larvae will then feed on the paralyzed grub.” Here is some information from the not to terribly scientific Wildside Holidays website: “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. They feed eagerly on flower nectar and this is the best time to view them.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) [See image below]. 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.” TrekNature also has a nice photo and information. North American species also paralyze Scarab Beetle Grubs. What you believe to be parasites are Phoretic Mites. These Mites do not harm the host insect, but use it for transportation purposes. Phoretic Mites often attach themselves in great numbers to flying insects who then transport the Mites to new locations and fresh food supplies. There may be some benefit for the Mammoth Wasp for this to be considered a symbiotic relationship. Perhaps the mites feed on something at the location where the Beetle Grubs are found that ensures that the wasp larva will not have any competition for food, but that remains to be researched.Mammoth Wasp with Phoretic Mites
Wow! That’s a lot of info! Thanks! That’s interesting about them flying around stumps. We have a great deal of date palms here and they fly around the base of those almost exclusively.
Letter 4 – Mammoth Wasp from Spain
Wierd Spanish Bug Location: Andalucia, Spain August 1, 2011 3:56 pm I live in spain and came across this bug the other week. it could not fly very well but was pretty huge! Signature: Mr McCann
Mammoth WaspDear Mr. McCann, Throughout the years, we have gotten several images of the Mammoth Wasp, Scolia flavifrons, and each time we cannot help but to be impressed by one of the most magnificent wasps in the world. It seems appropriate that such a large wasp would prey on the larvae of the impressive Rhinoceros Beetles. We have some good links on our 2009 submission from Sicily.
Letter 5 – Mammoth Wasp from Spain
Subject: Spanish beetele, Andalucia Location: Ayamonte, Andalucia, Spain May 28, 2012 12:41 pm Here it is, it landed on my wife, and it was very large… about two inches long minimum I cant find it on your website. Please advise what it is…. Signature: Andy W
Mammoth WaspHi Andy, This is not a Beetle. It is a Mammoth Wasp and there are several submissions in our archive including one from Spain. The Mammoth Wasp feeds on nectar and it is frequently seen visiting flowers, but the helpless larva feeds on the grubs of Rhinoceros Beetles. The female Mammoth Wasp hunts for the Scarab Larva and stings it to paralyze it. She then lays an egg, thus providing a fresh food supply for each of her progeny.
Letter 6 – Mammoth Wasp from Thailand: Megascolia azurea
Subject: Wasp or hornet or ? Location: Chiang Mai (northern Thailand). May 4, 2014 12:26 am Hi, this big flying insect comes into my house the last 2 days. It is not aggressive and about 5 cm long. I made the pictures through a glass bowl. Signature: Ricci
Mammoth Wasp: Megascolia azureaDear Ricci, This is a magnificent wasp, and we were immediately struck by its resemblance to the European Mammoth Wasp, which is represented in our archives and identified as eitherMegascolia maculataorScolia flavifrons. We may need to go back through our archives and make some corrections. So, with that as a point of departure, we believe we have identified your individual as Megascolia azurea on the HK Wildlife Forum and we found an example identified as a Digger Wasp from Hong Kong in our own archives. This image from TheBugRoom indicates that only the female of the species has the red head, an example of sexual dimorphism.Female Megascolia azurea
Letter 7 – Blue Flower Wasp from South Australia
Subject: Black wasp with yellow head Location: Naracoorte SA December 26, 2014 7:41 pm Hi Mr Bugman, if love your help please! I’ve just been bitten or stung (several times it would appear!) by this wasp. As is to be expected, it’s incredibly painful! I’m currently lying on the couch with ice applied – what a wonderful excuse to watch the cricket!! I’m in Naracoorte SA and Im not at all familiar with this type of wasp however my mum tells me she has seen them about. Can you please identify the wasp so that I may call my new nemesis by name! By the way, it took half a dozen attempts to kill, his body must be extremely hard! Many thanks in advance Belle Baker Signature: ??
Mammoth Wasp, we believeDear Belle, Though we were not able to locate any matching images on iSpot or elsewhere on the internet, we believe that this is a Mammoth Wasp in the family Scoliidae based on its resemblance to this European species of Mammoth Wasp. It is curious that we were not able to find any South African documentation on such a distinctive looking, large wasp.Ed. Note: Correction South Australia, not South Africa Thank you, that’s really interesting. Naracoorte is in South Australia, not South Africa… Warmest Regards, Belle Thanks for alerting us to the South Australia location. That makes a big difference. We believe we have correctly identified your Mammoth Wasp as a Blue Flower Wasp, Discolia verticalis, thanks to the BushCraftOz website where it states: “Large solitary wasps. Very hairy with dark blue body and yellow patch behind head. Adults have shiny dark blue wings and stoutly built. Nectar feeders, especially eucalyptus blossum. Females have spiny legs for digging in wood or soil searching for beetle larvae and other insects to parasite. Size – up to 59 mm. There are 25 species of flower wasps that belong to Scoliidae. Note: Flower wasps will sting if disturbed. Multiple stings can cause systemic reaction. Warning – if symptons indicate systemic reaction seek urgent medical advice.” There is a distribution map on the Atlas of Living Australia. Update: January 1, 2015 Subject: Blue Flower Wasp January 1, 2015 2:57 pm Thanks to your site we have decided on the Blue Flower Wasp as the identity of a swarm (probably 10+ )of wasps buzzing around a Blue Gum for the last 2 mornings. They disappear through the day. They have never been seen to land and make a very low pitched buzz as they fly close to you. In 25 years we have never seen them before. They are not aggressive, even when (with some difficulty – they are fast!) we netted one for a close look. We are in Beetaloo Valley, Southern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Signature: John Birrell
Letter 8 – Mammoth Wasp from Spain
Subject: what is this bug ? Location: valencia Spain June 17, 2016 6:38 am I found this morning on pepples in our garden …it is dead….it measures 5 cms.. its has a black body , prominent yellow markings on body and yellow head long brown wings and very hairy black legs… we live in Spain… any ideas?? Many thanks Signature: Mandy
Mammoth WaspDear Mandy, This gorgeous creature is a Mammoth Wasp, Scolia flavifrons, and in our opinion, they are much prettier alive than dead.
Letter 9 – Mammoth Wasp from Portugal
Subject: Scoliid wasp? Location: Salir, Algarve, Portugal July 28, 2016 9:56 am I spotted this huge specimen in my garden in the Algarve, Portugal. It was quite docile and tried to hide underneath my shower decking. It was about 5-6 cm in size and as you can see from the picture is black with four almost square yellow panels on the lower half. My Portuguese friends are saying it’s a bee killer, is this true? I’ve done some image searches and it looks like a Scoliid wasp, although I’m not sure those are native to Southern Europe. Thanks for your help. Signature: Vincent
Mammoth WaspDear Vincent, You are correct that this is a Scoliid Wasp or Mammoth Wasp, most likely Megascolia maculata AKA Scolia maculata based on this FlickR image. It is also pictured on iNaturalist. Your friends are wrong. Scoliid Wasps do not prey upon bees. Adults take pollen and nectar from flowers like most wasps, and the female hunts for Scarab Beetle larvae. Project Noah indicates there are three subspecies and provides this information: “The larger female (may reach 5.5-6 cm) can be told apart by her yellow head and short antennae. The male has a black head and longer antennae. Both have two yellow bands on their abdomens, which can be divided to form 4 spots as it is shown on the photos. Nevertheless, they hold no harm to humans despite their size, in contrast to common wasps and hornets. Indeed, mammoth wasps do have stings, but not for self-defence or nest protection (in fact, they are solitary wasps). You may see several of these wasps flying around decaying tree stumps, they have a purpose there. They’re searching for larvae of Rhinoceros beetle (lat. Oryctes nasicornis), The female wasp once she has discovered the huge larvae, will sting one to paralyze it and then lay her egg on the outer skin. After hatching, the larvae of the mammoth wasp starts eating its host, till reaches the size it could create a cocoon, where it can safely sleep through all winter. 6 months later, the larvae turns into pupa and after 1 month more, from under the underground emerges newly formed mammoth wasp. The adult once feed on flower nectar.” Thank you very much for clearing this up! I’m also happy to hear they feed on the rhinoceros beetle, those were responsible for killing the magnificent palm tree we had in our garden a few years back. I’ll definitely not harm these wasps when I see one in the future. Not that I would harm any creature, great or small Vincent.
Letter 10 – Mammoth Wasp from Singapore
Subject: Ant or Wasp? Location: Singapore October 12, 2016 1:28 pm Hi, I took this picture in Kitchen Garden, Pasir Ris Park of Singapore on a fine October morning. I can’t figure out whether this is an ant or a wasp. Help appreciated. Thanks! Signature: Teng
Mammoth Wasp: Scolia speciesDear Teng, Your image of a Mammoth Wasp (AKA Flower Wasp or Scarab Hunter) in the family Scoliidae is gorgeous. It looks very similar to this FlickR image from Indonesia of Scolia vollenhoveni, and we suspect it is either the same species or a closely related species in the same genus. Of the North American species, BugGuide notes: “Larvae are parasitoids of ground-dwelling scarab grubs, esp. Phyllophaga; adults take nectar.” Of the genus, BugGuide notes: “7 spp. in our area, a great many more in the Old World (30 in Europe alone).” Dear Daniel, Thanks a million! Regards, Teng
Letter 11 – Mammoth Wasp from South Africa
Subject: Any idea what this is? Location: Mpumalanga, South Africa February 12, 2017 2:37 pm This wasp? was rather aggressive. Signature: Yes
Mammoth WaspThis is a Mammoth Wasp in the family Scoliidae, and though there are several images posted to iSpot of this distinctive Scoliid, it is only identified to the family level. Female Mammoth Wasps prey upon the grubs of Scarab Beetles which provide food for her developing young.Mammoth WaspMammoth Wasp
Letter 12 – Female Mammoth Wasp from Malta
Subject: identify the insect Location: Malta June 4, 2017 8:55 am Dear Bugman, I found this insect in the fields of Malta and have looked all over the internet to try and identify it. Could you please help. Thank you Signature: S
Mammoth WaspDear S, This magnificent creature is a Mammoth Wasp, Megascolis maculata. According to the Times of Malta: “The mammoth wasp is the largest wasp you will encounter in Malta or, for that matter, anywhere in Europe. It belongs to a family of wasps known as scolid wasps and, in fact, is also known as the large yellow-banded scolid wasp.” According to Maltese Nature: “Only females have stings. The sting is used mainly to paralyse the white larvae of Europe’s largest beetle; the rhinoceros beetle. She then lays a single egg in the larva’s body. When the egg hatches, the wasp larva starts to feed on the larva’s internal tissues. It eventually kills it and continues eating it until nothing is left but an empty skin. When fully grown the larva forms a cocoon and emerges in spring when the air has warmed up sufficiently. In Maltese the mammoth wasp is known as qerd iż-żaqquq. Qerd is Maltese for destroyer but I could not find the meaning of żaqquq. I assume that as this wasp kills the larvae of the rhinoceros beetle żaqquq could be a lost name for this insect which nowadays is known as buqarn kbir. ” According to Project Noah: “Meeting with this flying monster probably wont let you calm down for a while. The larger female (may reach 5.5-6 cm) can be told apart by her yellow head and short antennae. The male has a black head and longer antennae. Both have two yellow bands on their abdomens, which can be divided to form 4 spots as it is shown on the photos. Nevertheless, they hold no harm to humans despite their size, in contrast to common wasps and hornets. Indeed, mammoth wasps do have stings, but not for self-defence or nest protection (in fact, they are solitary wasps).” We will be post-dating your submission to go live to our site later in the month while our editorial staff is away on holiday. Dear Daniel, Thank you so much for replying back, it was a very interesting read and I am glad I have a name for this beautiful creature. Kind Regards S
Letter 13 – Male Mammoth Wasp from Spain
Subject: Wasps Location: Costa Blanca , spain June 4, 2017 11:38 am Hi guys can you help me identify this wasp found hovering in my garden today. Signature: Adrian
Male Mammoth WaspDear Adrian, This is a male Mammoth Wasp, Megascolia maculata flavifrons, and you can verify our identification by comparing your image to this FlickR image. According to Project Noah: “Meeting with this flying monster probably wont let you calm down for a while. The larger female (may reach 5.5-6 cm) can be told apart by her yellow head and short antennae. The male has a black head and longer antennae. Both have two yellow bands on their abdomens, which can be divided to form 4 spots as it is shown on the photos. Nevertheless, they hold no harm to humans despite their size, in contrast to common wasps and hornets. Indeed, mammoth wasps do have stings, but not for self-defence or nest protection (in fact, they are solitary wasps).” We have several images of female Mammoth Wasps from Spain in our archives. Interestingly, we just received a submission of a female Mammoth Wasp from Malta, and we post-dated the submission to go live to our site later in the month when our editorial staff is away on holiday. We are also going to post-date your submission to go live on the same date.
Letter 14 – Female Mammoth Wasp from Italy
Subject: Artists Abraod Location: Venice, Italy June 26, 2017 2:23 pm Dear Bugman, I have just returned from a trip to Europe to with Sharon Lockhart and a group of Cal Arts students (myself included) where we did little more than look at art. However, at the Venice Biennale, we snuck out the back door of the Polish pavilion and stumbled across a beautiful bug. All being artists, we were immediately drawn to its crazy coloring as well as its large size and couldn’t help but wonder what was it?! Please help us all by answering this burning question. Also, as an aside Sharon sends her love. Warm wishes, Signature: Elizabeth
Female Mammoth WaspDear Elizabeth, Welcome home. This gorgeous, not quite real looking, yellow-headed creature is a female Mammoth Wasp, who can be distinguished from the male Mammoth Wasp who has a black head. The female Mammoth Wasp hunts for the large grubs of Scarab Beetles, laying an egg on each she finds. The larval Mammoth Wasp feeds upon and eats the Scarab Grub alive.
Letter 15 – Female Mammoth Wasp from Morocco
Subject: Large Bee – Ifrane, Morocco Location: Ifrane, Morocco June 26, 2017 4:07 pm Hello My 6yr old daughter spotted this magnificent beast this afternoon, just next to a bin on some grass. We were strolling through the town of Ifrane in the middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco (26th June). Notable by its size – approximately 50mm end to end. Quite furry on its body except for a solid, shiny yellow head and 2 smooth, yellow oval patches on its back. Fine hairy legs too! We’d love to know what it is! Thank you Signature: Naomi, Farida and Soukaina
Female Mammoth WaspDear Naomi, Farida and Soukaina, This is a female Mammoth Wasp, and we just finished posting another example of a female Mammoth Wasp from Venice, Italy. The yellow headed female Mammoth Wasp is capable of stinging (black headed male Mammoth Wasps cannot sting) but she is not aggressive toward humans. Her main goal is to locate the large grubs of Scarab Beetles. When she finds one, she lays an egg that will feed upon the living Scarab Grub when it hatches, eventually killing the grub.Female Mammoth Wasp
Hello Daniel Absolutely delighted to hear your answer. Thank you so much for taking the time to help. Best wishes, Naomi
Letter 16 – Female Mammoth Wasp
Subject: some kind of wasp or hornet? Location: Balkan/Montenegro/PodgoricaJuly 16, 2017 5:54 am Hell0! ☻ It’s been a while since my last entry… so I’ve found this fella yesterday in Podgorica,main city of Montenegro… It was about two inches long,and resting.I just took these pics and continued my way ☻ Anyway,I’ve seen this specific hornet or wasp for the first time,so I’m interested in what species it is exactly… Signature: Sam
Female Mammoth WaspDear Sam, This is a female Mammoth Wasp, and this year we have gotten images of female Mammoth Wasps from Morocco, Italy and Malta. Female Mammoth Wasps have yellow heads while the heads of male Mammoth Wasps are black.
Letter 17 – Mammoth Wasp from Maldovia
Subject: beautiful bug Geographic location of the bug: Chisinau, Moldova 46.9989, 28.9126 Date: 03/17/2018 Time: 09:49 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Hello! Today 17.03.2018 i find a bug. But i can’t identified him. I hope you help me. It a very beautiful bug, i see that for a first time. I send you a photo. How you want your letter signed: The Bug from Moldova
Mammoth WaspThis beautiful insect is a female Mammoth Wasp. Mammoth Wasp
Letter 18 – Mammoth Wasp from Nepal
Subject: Winged insect Geographic location of the bug: Nepal (Annapurna region) Date: 11/05/2019 Time: 08:30 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Hi I was on a trek recently (Oct 2019)in the Annapurna region of Nepal. U cane across this winged insect. Would love to know what it is. Thanks How you want your letter signed: Andy
Mammoth WaspDear Andy, Your image of this amazing insect is awesome. This is a Mammoth Wasp in the family Scoliidae. We located this FlickR posting that identifies it as a female Megascolia azurea and the posting indicates: “another rare record.” It is also pictured on ResearchGate and iNaturalist. Mammoth Wasps prey on the larvae of Scarab Beetles, not to eat, but to provide food for the young. Ray Cannon’s Nature Notes has a nice posting of an encounter in Thailand. Hi Daniel, Thank you so much for your quick response. Thats amazing. Im so please to have have found out what this insect is. Ive posted it on Instagram, I’ll mention that you helped me i-d it. Regards Andy Hi again Andy, You got lucky with the “quick response” because Daniel was traveling to Washington DC with a group of award winning Journalism students for five days during which time he didn’t respond to any identification requests.
Huge Sicilian wasp August 12, 2009 Hi experts, I’m hoping you’ll be able to tell me what this beast is. I’ve only seen it dead as I fished it out of a pool in Western Sicily a couple of weeks ago and in any case I don’t think I’d have dared get close to it alive. Apologies for the quality, I only had my phone by way of camera and it began to stink and was covered in ants after an hour out of the pool so I had to abandon it. The body was smooth and hairless like a wasp’s but the abdomen ended bluntly instead of in the typical tapered point. There was a brown ovipositor or sting sticking out, almost a millimeter thick. Rizla packet included for scale. The bug was almost 2 inches in length / across the wingspan. I’m hoping you’ll tell me it was a wasp as I’ve been scaring friends with the picture ever since! Many thanks. Steve Lawson Paceco, Western Sicily
Wasp Location: Baghdad, Iraq May 19, 2011 1:55 am These large ”wasps” (?) are quite common over here. I found this one dying today so… I’d like to know the species AND I’m really curious about the apparent parasite infestation it is suffering from. They look like ticks of some sort. Thanks! Signature: Phil Monroe
Wierd Spanish Bug Location: Andalucia, Spain August 1, 2011 3:56 pm I live in spain and came across this bug the other week. it could not fly very well but was pretty huge! Signature: Mr McCann
Subject: Spanish beetele, Andalucia Location: Ayamonte, Andalucia, Spain May 28, 2012 12:41 pm Here it is, it landed on my wife, and it was very large… about two inches long minimum I cant find it on your website. Please advise what it is…. Signature: Andy W
Subject: Black wasp with yellow head Location: Naracoorte SA December 26, 2014 7:41 pm Hi Mr Bugman, if love your help please! I’ve just been bitten or stung (several times it would appear!) by this wasp. As is to be expected, it’s incredibly painful! I’m currently lying on the couch with ice applied – what a wonderful excuse to watch the cricket!! I’m in Naracoorte SA and Im not at all familiar with this type of wasp however my mum tells me she has seen them about. Can you please identify the wasp so that I may call my new nemesis by name! By the way, it took half a dozen attempts to kill, his body must be extremely hard! Many thanks in advance Belle Baker Signature: ??
Subject: what is this bug ? Location: valencia Spain June 17, 2016 6:38 am I found this morning on pepples in our garden …it is dead….it measures 5 cms.. its has a black body , prominent yellow markings on body and yellow head long brown wings and very hairy black legs… we live in Spain… any ideas?? Many thanks Signature: Mandy
Subject: Scoliid wasp? Location: Salir, Algarve, Portugal July 28, 2016 9:56 am I spotted this huge specimen in my garden in the Algarve, Portugal. It was quite docile and tried to hide underneath my shower decking. It was about 5-6 cm in size and as you can see from the picture is black with four almost square yellow panels on the lower half. My Portuguese friends are saying it’s a bee killer, is this true? I’ve done some image searches and it looks like a Scoliid wasp, although I’m not sure those are native to Southern Europe. Thanks for your help. Signature: Vincent
Vincent.
Subject: Ant or Wasp? Location: Singapore October 12, 2016 1:28 pm Hi, I took this picture in Kitchen Garden, Pasir Ris Park of Singapore on a fine October morning. I can’t figure out whether this is an ant or a wasp. Help appreciated. Thanks! Signature: Teng
Subject: Any idea what this is? Location: Mpumalanga, South Africa February 12, 2017 2:37 pm This wasp? was rather aggressive. Signature: Yes
Subject: identify the insect Location: Malta June 4, 2017 8:55 am Dear Bugman, I found this insect in the fields of Malta and have looked all over the internet to try and identify it. Could you please help. Thank you Signature: S
Subject: Wasps Location: Costa Blanca , spain June 4, 2017 11:38 am Hi guys can you help me identify this wasp found hovering in my garden today. Signature: Adrian
Subject: some kind of wasp or hornet? Location: Balkan/Montenegro/PodgoricaJuly 16, 2017 5:54 am Hell0! ☻ It’s been a while since my last entry… so I’ve found this fella yesterday in Podgorica,main city of Montenegro… It was about two inches long,and resting.I just took these pics and continued my way ☻ Anyway,I’ve seen this specific hornet or wasp for the first time,so I’m interested in what species it is exactly… Signature: Sam
