[8] The mammoth wasp is found in Mediterranean type habitats such as oak forests, maquis and garrigue.

It can only occur where its prey, the European rhinoceros beetle Oryctes nasicornis, is found too and in Russia it has been noted that it is commonest around human habitation where manure piles, sawmills and compost heaps provide habitat for its prey.

[citation needed] The adult mammoth wasps feed on nectar from flowers.

[9] The female hunts in dead wood for the grubs of the European rhinoceros beetle which it paralyses by stinging it and then lays a single egg on the larva.

[10] It is suggested as the insect model used for the gold "Malia Pendant", a jewel of high quality gold-smithery of the Minoan times.