Characteristics
- Medium to large size (up to 30 mm)
- Hairy body, often black with yellow or orange bands
- Dark wings, often smoky or metallic-sheened
- Loud and fast flight, sometimes hovering over the ground
- Marked sexual dimorphism: robust females, more slender males
Habitat
Scoliids are found in:
- Warm meadows, heathlands, flowering fallows
- Dry grasslands, embankments, roadsides
- Sunny gardens and orchards
- Loose soils rich in scarab beetle larvae
Biology
- Parasitoids of beetle larvae, especially Scarabaeidae (e.g., cockchafers, rose chafers)
- The female locates the larva underground, paralyzes it, and lays an egg on it
- The scoliid larva consumes the living but paralyzed host
- Adults feed on nectar from flowers, often from asteraceae or apiaceae
Representative Genera
- Scolia – Type genus, many European and Mediterranean species
- Megascolia – Giant species in tropical regions
- Campsomeris, Dielis – Mostly found in warm zones
Distinctive Features
- Active during the peak of summer heat
- Despite their size and appearance, they are harmless insects
- Important ecological role in naturally controlling pest beetle populations
- Not aggressive, they can be easily approached while feeding
