The Scoliidae is a small but distinctive family. The largest wasp species in Europe, Megascolia maculata, belongs to this family. Males and females can look quite distinct, enough to not immediately recognize them as belonging to the same species. Females tunnel in the soil where they seek out large coleopterous larvae, mostly scarabaeids. The scolid female stings and paralyzes its victim, lays a single egg and departs. Scoliid larvae are ectoparasitoids which complete their development within the cell of the host.
Source: Gauld, I. & B. Bolton, eds. 1988. The Hymenoptera, p. 237. |
