In the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park in the Odesa region, a unique wasp listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and Europe has been spotted – the giant wasp (Megascolia maculata). Recently, it was photographed on rose flowers, as reported by park employee, Doctor of Biological Sciences Ivan Rusev.

Life Characteristics of the Rare Wasp

According to Ivan Rusev, the giant wasp leads a dual lifestyle: as a larva, it is a parasite, while in its adult phase (imago), it is a phytophage, feeding on plant material. All wasps of this type are diurnal creatures. At night, they bury themselves in the ground, and with the first rays of sunlight, they emerge to feed on flowering plants. Since giant wasps lack a long proboscis, they can only access nectar from shallow-flowered plants like asters and umbellifers.

Despite its intimidating appearance, this rare wasp poses little threat to humans. Its venom is significantly weaker than that of common wasps. The wasp uses its venom not to protect its nest, but to paralyze the larva of its host (for instance, a rhinoceros beetle), onto which it then lays its egg. The egg overwinters in the soil and transforms into a pupa in the spring.