mega wasps!

[Martin]

anyone else getting these bally things?

-this is a small one! (honest!) - I have seen them twice as big - first saw them about 4 years ago.
They have the disconcerting habit of imitating an Apache helicopter - they'll hurtle towards you, and stop, hovering a few feet away, LOOKING AT YOU!
(presumably locking on weapons systems prior to the attack)
-most discombobulating!

[Shirley]

Is it a hornet?

[The Chili Monster]

Dunno - no distinct waist, lack of ovipositor - real or pseudo - not a wasp.

[Martin]

here's another shot!

[chadspad]

It could be a hornet. We have them here in France too and the talk from the locals is, if u get stung 3 times it will give u a heartache the sting is so strong. They are terrified of them!

[Martin]

moi aussi!
Whatever they are, they scare the living willies out of me! That one tried the hovering trick, and I fetched it one with a bit of 2x1 that was to hand - believe me, they take some killing, it took another squidging to finish it off

[chadspad]

I dont like to attack them incase I miss, pee them off and then they come after me!

[Martin]

I think this one may have a few bits missing - when I peered at it, the pointy rear end was oozing yellow pus - from memory, they normally have a 2-4mm black bit sticking out(sting/ovipositor?)

[chadspad]

Yes the ones Ive seen do seem to be longer and more pointy!

[The Chili Monster]

They're European Hornets. They can sting but it's not fatal (unless allergic) and less toxic than a bee's.
They are not agressive - allegedly. Perhaps something has unnerved them, Martin?
Eurpean hornets have distinctive c-shaped eyes.
Here's a pic:


Unlike paper wasps "yellow jackets", they're ovipositors are not barbed.

[Andy Hamilton]

hmm does look like a hornet, found this picture on wiki -



I personally would not kill any hornets "Hornets and yellowjackets prey on many insects that are considered to be pests, so are actually beneficial." But I would be tempted to run away.

Have a look around this page

er, this bit of advice is on there under actions to avoid - Disturbing or killing a hornet within a few meters of a nest.

[Shirley]

We had hornets in the roof when we lived in Herefordshire and they were definitely not aggressive towards us - Sounded like a bomber pilot when they buzzed past you though, and we tried not to get in their way. If it had been wasps nest in the roof I would have got rid, but we decided to live with the hornets.

They used to buzz around a window at night if you had the light on and it was then when we could get to see them close up - needless to say we made double sure not to leave the window open when the light was on!!

[The Chili Monster]

Martin wrote:

I think this one may have a few bits missing - when I peered at it, the pointy rear end was oozing yellow pus - from memory, they normally have a 2-4mm black bit sticking out(sting/ovipositor?) Confused

Not surprised if you whacked it with a bit of wood ...
(Reminds me of the joke, "What's the last thing a fly sees when it hits the windscreen of a moving car?)
With some species the ovipositor is retractable (makes sense if you're into stinging mindlessly) - I can see a small one in the second pic that you posted. (A little hairy bump).

Some European varieties are quite large.

[madasafish]

I once disturbed by accident a hornet's nest in a forest in Scotland. Most aggressive. I ran and so did my mates (we were students trimming trees).
The forrester with us ran faster:-)

[The Chili Monster]

Perhaps I should point out that they're not prone to acts of agression (unless provoked).