Scolia nobilitata

Fabricius, 1805

Noble Scoliid Wasp

Species Guides

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Scolia nobilitata is a of scoliid native to North America. are active in late summer and autumn, when they visit flowers for nectar. Females are of scarab beetle , locating underground, paralyzing them with a sting, and laying on the immobilized larvae. The species is considered beneficial for of turf-damaging white grubs.

Scolia nobilitata by (c) Laura Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Clark. Used under a CC-BY license.Scolia nobilitata by (c) Laura Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Clark. Used under a CC-BY license.Scolia nobilitata nobilitata by (c) Amy Schnebelin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Amy Schnebelin. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Scolia nobilitata: /ˈskoʊ.li.ə noʊˌbɪl.ɪˈtɑː.tə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from the similar Scolia dubia by having four yellow or off-white spots on the (two pairs) rather than two yellow spots; Scolia dubia has a reddish-brown terminal abdominal segment with two yellow spots, while S. nobilitata lacks the reddish coloration. Wings are smoky brown rather than the iridescent blue-black of S. dubia. Body is black and moderately hairy. Females have short ; males have long antennae and a three-pronged pseudostinger.

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Habitat

Open areas with exposed soil suitable for digging, including lawns, gardens, pastures, and meadows. Requires presence of scarab beetle in soil. Often associated with flowering plants in the mint (Lamiaceae) and aster family (Asteraceae) where forage.

Distribution

Eastern North America; specific range boundaries not well documented in sources but occurs in the Mid-Atlantic and eastern United States based on observation records.

Seasonality

active from late summer through autumn, typically August to October depending on latitude. of adults follows after winter .

Diet

feed on nectar from flowers, particularly mountain mint, spotted horse mint, goldenrod, and other late-season blooming plants. Larvae are ectoparasitoids that consume scarab beetle .

Life Cycle

Females locate scarab beetle underground, dig to expose them using spiny legs, sting to paralyze, and lay a single on the grub. The larva hatches and feeds externally on the paralyzed for one to two weeks, then spins a silken cocoon and overwinters as a pre-pupa. occurs the following summer, with emerging in late summer.

Behavior

Females fly low over soil in searching patterns to detect subterranean . Males fly in figure-eight patterns near the ground to locate emerging virgin females. are solitary and non-aggressive toward humans; females sting only if physically molested. Males cannot sting. Adults roost on vegetation overnight, sometimes in loose .

Ecological Role

agent of scarab beetle pests including white that damage lawns and ornamental plants. Contributes to pollination through nectar foraging.

Human Relevance

Beneficial insect for management of turfgrass and garden pests without chemical intervention. Presence may indicate substantial scarab in soil. pose minimal sting risk and should be conserved rather than controlled.

Similar Taxa

  • Scolia dubiaSimilar size and habit; distinguished by two yellow spots on reddish-brown abdominal tip and iridescent blue-black wings versus four yellow spots on black and smoky brown wings in S. nobilitata
  • Scolia bicinctaSimilar eastern North American range and autumn activity; distinguished by two broad white bands across rather than four spots

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Sources and further reading