The 10 Largest Wasps in the World

When you see a wasp flying toward you, what do you do? Most people’s first instinct is to run away screaming, and it’s easy to see why. They inflict a vicious sting, and some pack so much venom that even a few stings can be fatal to some individuals. However, wasps also serve an important role in the ecosystem. They pollinate flowers and trees, plus help reduce the populations of common pests and other invasive species. While they may appear scary, there is more to them than meets the eye. 

Wasps, and their close cousin the hornet, share a common ancestor with bees and ants. Some species are eusocial, which means they live in colonies where only some members can reproduce. Others live mostly solitary existences. Although most act as pollinators, many also capture and eat other insects. They come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny little fairy wasps to the giant hornets of Asia and Europe. However, which species of wasp are the largest? To determine which wasps are the grandest of them all, it’s essential to measure their length from head to stinger. Here is a list of the 10 largest wasps in the world. 

10. European Hornet

The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is the largest eusocial wasp native to Europe. In addition, it’s also the largest true hornet in North America. Although it looks similar to the Asian giant hornet, it is much smaller in size. On average, workers measure around one inch in length, but queens can grow up to 1.37 inches long. Their abdomens have brown and yellow stripes, while the wings appear reddish-orange. Most people view European hornets as pests, but in general, they tend to avoid humans. However, they can quickly turn aggressive if you threaten their nests or get too close to their food sources. 

Although they originated in Europe, their range extends to Japan and throughout North and Central America. They are primarily carnivorous, feeding on beetles, moths, dragonflies, mantises, and other wasps. However, they consume fruit and other high-sugar foods as well. They also steal prey from other insects.

9. Great Golden Digger 

Also known as the great golden sand digger, the great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) is part of the Sphecidae family. It gets its name from the golden pubescence on its head and thorax, and because it digs burrows in sand. At their largest, they can reach up to 1.5 inches in length, with females measuring bigger than males. In general, they tend to mind their own business and do not act aggressively toward humans. 

Great golden digger wasps range throughout North, Central, and South America. They congregate around parks and meadows where flowers grow. Unlike eusocial species, great golden digger wasps are solitary insects. Their diet primarily consists of nectar from flowers, but they will also capture and paralyze katydids and crickets. Gardeners often express affection for them because they aerate the soil with their tunnels and remove pests.

8. Great Black Wasp

As its name implies, the great black wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) is a large species of wasp that can grow up to 1.5 inches in length. However, most average between 0.8-1.4 inches long. As with most wasps, the females typically measure larger than the males. Their bodies are jet black, while their wings appear bluish-purple. Although their sting is quite painful, they pose little threat to humans.

The great black wasp is distributed throughout most of the United States and northern Mexico. Its scientific name alludes to its American origins, as the word pensylvanicus translates to “native to Pennsylvania.” They belong to the digger wasp family and build their nests in underground tunnels. Their diet includes grasshoppers, cicadas, locusts, and katydids, which they also feed to their larvae.

7. Long-Tailed Giant Ichneumonoid Wasp

The long-tailed giant ichneumonoid wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus) is one of the largest species in the Ichneumonidae family. Females can grow up to two inches in length. Their ovipositor, which they use to deposit their eggs, can reach four inches in length. It gets its scientific name from the Greek words makrós, meaning “long,” and oùrá, meaning “tail.” Their body is reddish-brown with black and yellow-orange stripes, while the wings appear transparent. Unlike most wasps, they do not sting and pose no threat to people. 

Long-tailed giant ichneumonoid wasps live in the eastern half of the United States. As a parasitoid, it breeds by injecting its eggs into the larvae of pigeon horntails, which are another type of wasp. After a few weeks, the wasp larva will consume the host and pupate before emerging as a fully grown adult.

6. Cicada Killer 

Also known as the cicada hawk, the cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus) is a large, solitary species of digger wasp. It occasionally goes by the name Eastern cicada killer or sand hornet, despite not belonging to the hornet family. Sizes vary greatly, with specimens ranging from 0.6 to 2 inches long. Reddish hair covers their black-striped thorax, while their wings appear brown. Despite their fearsome name and appearance, they do not pose a direct threat to humans. They rarely attack people, and their sting is considered to be very mild.

Cicada killers live throughout the Eastern and Central United States, Mexico, and Central America. They get their name from the fact that the females hunt cicadas, which they feed to their larvae. Adults subsist solely on the nectar from flowers. Thanks to their efforts at reducing cicada populations, cicada killers indirectly benefit deciduous tree populations upon which cicadas feed.

5. Asian Giant Hornet

Also known as the Japanese giant hornet, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world’s largest hornet. They can grow up to 2.2 inches with stingers 1/4-inch long. Their wingspan measures over three inches. Their distinctive orange head and brown body make them easily recognizable, even among the thousands of species of wasp. In addition to their common and scientific names, they also go by the more sinister name, “murder hornet.” This is due to their venomous sting, which can be dangerous if there are multiple stings or if a person has allergies.

The Asian giant hornet is native to East and Southeast Asia as well as the far east of Russia. There have been limited sightings in North America in the past few years, but this does not yet indicate there are established populations. Asian giant hornets prefer to build their underground nests in forested and low mountainous areas. Its diet consists of large insects, honey, and tree sap.

4. Mammoth Wasp

The mammoth wasp (Megascolia maculata) is the largest wasp found in Europe. Females can reach up to 2.4 inches in length, although males generally measure much smaller. They are similar in appearance to a stretched-out bumblebee, with glossy black hair covering their yellow and black striped bodies. Despite their large size, their sting is relatively harmless to humans, and they rarely act aggressively toward people.

Mammoth wasp populations live throughout southern Europe and Russia, North Africa, and the Near East. It prefers Mediterranean habitats such as oak forests and dense shrublands. They can also frequently be found around compost heaps and sawmills, which attract their prey. Adults feed on the nectar of flowers. They are parasitic, with the females laying their eggs on the larvae of the European rhinocerous beetle. When the larvae hatch, they will eat the host.

3. Giant Scoliid Wasp

The giant scoliid wasp (Megascolia procer) is a solitary species belonging to the family Scoliidae. They can measure up to 2.5 inches in length. In addition, their wingspan can reach up to 4.5 inches long. Their bodies look black and feature yellow and orange markings. They will only sting humans if they feel threatened. 

The giant scoliid wasp is found in parts of India and across Southeast Asia, including, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaya, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar. There is also a sub-species that is native to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java. Females prey on the Atlas beetle, which they paralyze and bury in an underground cell. The female’s egg germinates inside the beetle until it hatches and proceeds to consume its still-living host.

2. Megalara Garuda

Dubbed the “King of Wasps” after its discovery was announced in 2012, Megalara garuda is one of the largest wasps in the world. No live specimens have been recovered, but some found remains measure up to 2.5 inches long. Unlike most species of wasps, the males look noticeably larger than the females. Their massive bodies are jet black, and the males possess long, powerful-looking jaws. The purpose of the jaws is unknown, but researchers speculate it may be for the defense of the nest.

To date, the only known habitat of Megalara garuda is the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It gets its name from Garuda, a part-human, part-eagle mythical creature that serves as the national symbol of Indonesia. They belong to the larrine wasp sub-family, suggesting that they dig nests for their eggs and feed their larvae on grasshoppers or katydids.

1. Tarantula Hawk

The tarantula hawk (Pepsis heros) is arguably the largest wasp in the world. These wasps are a type of spider wasp that specializes in hunting tarantulas. The Pepsis heros species can grow up to four inches long and has a wingspan of 4.75 inches. Their coloration is typically blue-black, with rust-colored wings. Although they rarely attack humans, tarantula hawks deliver one of the most painful stings among all insects. Thankfully, the pain from their sting only lasts about five minutes. Few animals prey on tarantula hawks because of their large stinger, with the roadrunner being a notable exception.

Tarantula Hawks’ territory includes India, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Both male and female adults subsist on a diet of flowers, but only the females hunt spiders. They use their stinger to paralyze tarantulas before laying an egg inside their live host, which becomes food for their larva.