Huge wasps buzzing around Mallorca!

The megascolia maculata flavifrons can be up to 6 centimetres long and the black dots on its abdomen make it easily recognisable.

It's size and large and powerful jaws may cause concern, but they’re actually no more dangerous to humans than the common bee and people are urged not to kill them because they’re super important for pollination.

The mammoth wasp is very different to the Asian wasp, which is extremely dangerous for the environment and long gone from the Balearic Islands, thanks to successful control campaigns. However the Asian wasp is still causing serious problems in northern areas of the mainland, so experts are constantly on alert in case they return to Mallorca.

Mammoth wasps don’t form colonies, are less aggressive than Asian wasps and their colours are different.