Scolia hirta

Fascinating facts about the Scolia hirta

• Scolia hirta inhabits a wide swathe of territory, being found throughout most of the Mediterranean basin and central Europe. Its range also stretches eastward into the Palearctic realm, reaching countries of the Near East. Populations have been recorded further south in North Africa, and the subspecies unifasciata is limited to islands such as Corsica, Sicily and Malta, highlighting its adaptability to varied climates.
• Adult Scolia hirta measure between 10 and 25 millimetres in length, presenting a strikingly uniform black exoskeleton. Two glossy yellow stripes run longitudinally along the abdomen, giving the insect a distinctive pattern. Their wings are a smoky dark hue that reflects a subtle blue sheen when caught in light, a feature that sets them apart from the similar Scolia sexmaculata which bears yellow spots instead of stripes.
• Male Scolia hirta possess antennae composed of thirteen distinct segments, while females have twelve segments. This makes the male antennae noticeably longer than those of females.
• Male Scolia hirta are distinguished by three prominent spines on the apex of their abdomen. Males also have longer antennae composed of thirteen segments, compared with the twelve-segment antennae of females.
• Female Scolia hirta locate the underground larvae of scarab beetles, especially members of the Cetoniinae such as Cetonia aurata, by digging in soil. Once a suitable host is found, the wasp delivers a sting that injects venom, producing permanent paralysis in the beetle larva. She then deposits a single egg directly on the immobilised prey; the egg hatches and the emerging wasp larva feeds on the still-alive but paralyzed beetle, using it as a fresh food source.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Scolia hirta

In the warm, sun-drenched grasslands, a diminutive yet formidable hunter emerges, as the Scolia hirta wasp darts with purpose, its iridescent blue body glimmering like a fragment of sky. With each swift, agile movement, it navigates a world of intricate relationships, seeking out the burrows of unsuspecting beetles to parasitize and claim as its own. As it flits from blade to blade, its very existence is a testament to the complex, often hidden, dramas that unfold in the unassuming landscapes of our natural world.

More insects and spiders to discover

Browse Feravox