Mammoth wasp - Megascolia maculata maculata

Mammoth wasp - Megascolia maculata. Amazing insect, the biggest Euroapean wasp. Thasos island, Greece.

comments (9)

Vodkaman

Lion

Large Megascolia are amazing creatures. Shocking when you see your first one, especially for phobics like me.

Dave Posted 9 years ago
1. Jivko Nakev
  
  Lion
  
  Yes, when I first saw it I just stayed mesmerized! Very hard to capture the whole body - permanently curling and squeezing between the leaves and flowers. BTW, I have made some further research and consultations and it seems this is M. m. maculata with red gaster apex, and black in M. m. flavifrons. Posted 9 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Top find, Jivko, what a beautiful beast it is! Posted 9 years ago

RMFelix

Lion

Beautiful female! I don't know if the ssp. maculata exists here, it is quite beautiful indeed, with more color pattern than the ssp. albifrons, and that big too ;) Very fine sighting and a great capture, my friend! cheers* Posted 9 years ago
1. Jivko Nakev
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you Felix! Posted 9 years ago

Stuart

Lion

I'm going to Greece in 3 weeks - I do and don't want to see one of these! Cracking shot! Posted 9 years ago
1. Jivko Nakev
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Stuart. They are quite busy to collect nectar and don't pay attention to annoying photographers.... :-) Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. Stuart
    
    Lion
    
    Turns out that a recent trip to corfu did bring us together, and you were right, the wasp was more interested in collecting nectar than it was in me. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a shot as good as yours, specifically for reason you gave about going in and out of leaves! Posted 8 years ago
  2. 1. Jivko Nakev
      
      Lion
      
      Thank you! Yes, indeed, I made maybe two hundred shots and got only 10-15 good ones. Very frustrating! But it's worth it! Posted 8 years ago

The Megascolia maculata maculata

The mammoth wasp, Megascolia maculata maculata, is a very large wasp (the largest in Europe), with the female reaching up to 6 centimeters (2.4 in), whereas the male is smaller. The species can be seen in warm weather, from May to September.

Info 5 0

Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants

Species identified by Jivko Nakev