About Scolia dubia Say
Scolia dubia Say is a wasp that measures 2.0 to 2.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1.0 inch) in length. The portion of its body extending from the head through the first or second abdominal segment is black, while the second and third abdominal segments and all segments beyond are red. In the nominate subspecies, the second abdominal segment is black, and the third tergite has two yellow spots; these yellow spots are absent in the subspecies S. dubia haematodes. The wings have a violaceous hue or show blueish reflections. Males share the same coloration as females of their respective subspecies, but males have longer antennae, and seven metasomal segments instead of the six found in females. The subspecies S. dubia haematodes has a coloration very similar to Triscolia ardens, but can be distinguished by its forewing, which only has two submarginal cells; T. ardens has three submarginal cells. In the United States, this species is distributed from New England to Florida, and west as far as California. The southern end of its range reaches Coahuila, Mexico.
