The largest representative of the family in the Eastern Hemisphere. Wingspan up to 15 cm [1] . The length of the front wing is 50–65 mm; the back wing, 47–62 mm; the length of the abdomen of the female, 35–43 mm; and the male (with ectoprojects), 35–45 mm. The length of ectoproducts is about 10 mm. The body is yellow, with a brown pattern, covered with thick hairs. The abdomen is yellow, with three longitudinal brown stripes characteristic of the species along the tergites . The wings are wide, transparent, with a well-developed bright brown or reddish-brown complex pattern, with a single-row costal field. Ectoprojects in males with long ventral processes, cylindrical gonarcus with paired sedentary parameters at the apex. The head is yellow, with a large brown spot between the antennas and the casing. Antennas are short, smoothly expanding into a flattened, slightly expressed mace. Legs are dark-red-brown, powerful, all legs are black. Spurs are red-brown, slightly curved.
Larvae are large. It has a barrel-shaped, almost non-flattened body. Length together with mandibles - 25–35 mm.
West Palearctic species, characterized by a wide range, covering the countries of Southern Europe , North Africa and southwest Asia. Distributed from Spain to the Caucasus and south to Iran and Israel . In the fauna of Russia it is represented only in the Caspian part of Dagestan .
