Massive woodland wasp?

[Steve H]

I was walking in a broadleaved woodland today and feeding on hogweed was the BIGGEST wasp I have ever seen! Approx two inches in length?
Any ideas as to how common and what the name is??

Regards

[agrumpycow]

Looks like a hornet Vespa crabro. Apparently their quite rare and don't often sting which is just as well as I would imagine in would bloomin' hurt!!!

[Amiguru]

Its a good job it wasn't a female Horntail - Uroceras gigas or you would probably have regarded the hornet as rather small! Just take a look at this:
http://www.sumfak.hr/~forbug/fotke/sirexgigas.jpg
and remember they are millimetre squares. Way back in the Sixties I worked in a parks department in Grimsby and would often have these brought to me for identification. They used to arrive in the loads of timber being docked there. They are totally harmless but look quite scary with that huge drill and ovipositor. In those days they were called Sirax gigas. I still have some of the specimens but of course the legs have tended to drop off with time.

[aeshna5]

Yes a Hornet + they are becoming more widespread, especially in the south.

[eucera]

Confirm - Vespa crabro.

Widespread and common in many areas of Southern England which have "Ancient" countryside with areas of old woodland (cf "Planned" countryside). Particularly plentiful in the lower Severn Valley, Dorset, the New Forest, Chilterns and parts of Norfolk. Evidence of spread into East Sussex and Kent over the last few years (where it has been traditionally scarce)

Northwards to about Doncaster, but always notable north of a line from the Humber to the Mersey, and any record should be backed up with evidence or a voucher. "Records" from northernmost England or Scotland invaribly turn out to be Wood Wasp (Uroceras gigas) of, in recent years, Dolichovespula media

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Looks like a hornet Vespa crabro. Apparently their quite rare and don't often sting which is just as well as I would imagine in would bloomin' hurt!!!

AGC, I see them virtually every day here and you are just up the road from us! Have they not ventured as far as Reading?

Jenny

[Steve H]

So are they pretty much common then?
This amazed me by its size!!!!!

Anyone know had bad its sting would be compared to common wasp etc?

Regards
Steve

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by jennyb

AGC, I see them virtually every day here and you are just up the road from us! Have they not ventured as far as Reading?
Jenny

I must admit I haven't personally seen one in Reading but know plenty of people who have, I guess it's because every time I hear the buzzing I do a runner There were loads in Suffolk when we were on holiday last year.
I was quoting from another website which said they were rare in the UK but more common in the south but further googling has found many sites which say they are more widespread.

[galanthus]

Hi Steve

I have a fatal allergy to wasp venom and on getting stung by one small british wasp will collapse and die within 20 minutes. I carry 2 epipens but have been told should I get stung by a hornet ...no chance of survival From this I deduce that the sting and venom must be a lot more painful from the hornet.

[James M]

I've heard that the sting is about as painful as that of a bee.
Sorry to hear about your allergy galanthus.