Megascolia procer, the giant scoliid wasp, is a solitary wasp in the family Scoliidae found across Asia. It is one of the largest wasps in the world, with a wingspan of 11.6 cm (4.6 in).[2]
M. procer is a large tropical wasp with a body length of 46–77 mm (1.8–3.0 in).[2] The body is primarily black with yellowish markings on the front and vertex of the head, pronotum, scutellum, metanotum, medial spot on the first gastral tergite, and a pair of anterolateral spots on the third gastal tergite. The wings are brown with blue iridescent reflections.[1] This structural coloration is because the wing is made of chitin, made dark with melanin, and covered with a transparent overlayer 286 nm (1.13×10−5in) thick that acts as an interference thin film.[3]
[edit]The Atlas beetle, Chalcosoma atlas (male shown), is the host for M. procer.
The species is a parasitoid of the scarabaeid Atlas beetle, Chalcosoma atlas. The wasp paralyzes a beetle grub with its sting, then lays an egg on it and buries it in an underground cell. When the wasp larva hatches, it consumes its still-living host before pupating inside its remains.[7]
^ abcdGupta, Salil K; Jonathan, Joseph Kenneth (2003). The fauna of India and the adjacent countries / Hymenoptera: Scoliidae. Kolkata: Zoological Survey of India. pp. 135–138. ISBN81-8171-009-6.
^Burnie, David (2001). Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife (1st ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 632 pp. ISBN90-18-01564-4.
