Devil Bees

[saltnester]

Yesterday I was set upon by creatures the like of which I have never seen before: hornet-sized (about 5cm) dull orange insects looking most like bees or at a stretch very fuzzy cicadas. It was on the Downs (cropped grassland) across the Avon Gorge from extensive woodland, and the reason I fled from the beasties was that they seemed actively about to attack, buzzing and doggedly pursuing me and refusing to budge unless physically shaken off, much like horseflies. The incident seemed localised to that area of the downs, but there was no nest or actual swarm evident, though several Devil Bees went for me - what were these things? Is it their mating season? Why have I never seen one before?

[eucera]

There isn't all that much to go on here except to say that at 5cm, these would be bigger than any bees on the planet... In fact.... 5 cm would be more than double the size of a worker hornet too and hornets are our largest stinging insect.

A picture would be an absolute must if anyone is to get anywhere identifying what are, quite literally, fantastically big insects

[Dogghound]

Have to admit im abit stumped, there are no species of hymenoptera i can think of that sound like that, more likely a species of coleoptera which narrows it down to afew thousand , any more info of a better description?

[saltnester]

That's why I said cicada, but the closest look I got at one (that wasn't flying at my face) was one that landed on my upper arm - if it had any wing-cases they were hidden in perspective by the beelike fuzz. Entirely a rusty orange, beelike head...They did literally look like giant bees, and flew heavily like a bee or beetle. I don't think I have false memory of the size - I recall raising my hand to threaten the one on my arm (it didn't care, I had to literally throw it off) and being alarmed to find it near the length of my thumb...I have searched t'internet for pictures, but as I don't know what I'm looking for it's not turned aything up...

[eucera]

Originally Posted by saltnester

That's why I said cicada, but the closest look I got at one (that wasn't flying at my face) was one that landed on my upper arm - if it had any wing-cases they were hidden in perspective by the beelike fuzz. Entirely a rusty orange, beelike head...They did literally look like giant bees, and flew heavily like a bee or beetle. I don't think I have false memory of the size - I recall raising my hand to threaten the one on my arm (it didn't care, I had to literally throw it off) and being alarmed to find it near the length of my thumb...I have searched t'internet for pictures, but as I don't know what I'm looking for it's not turned aything up...

Right.. we are getting a little further I think.

"Cicada-like" ....Wing cases ... we are talking beetles (we only have 1 Cicada in UK and that is on the verge of extinction, and is restricted to Hampshire).

Flying heavily... fuzzy..... these sound like Summer Chafers (although the size is still way out)

Whatever it is... stinging would be out of the question.

See if we are getting any nearer

[saltnester]

I looked up summer chafers - they look about the right colour, but not fuzzy or vast...I'm really not sure if it had wing-cases, not being able to see them. Are there any very big agressive sorts of summer chafer that would turn up on short grassland? That was the most baffling thing, that they were out in the open...maybe they'd just come out of their holes or something? They might still be fuzzy then...[scratches head] How big are European chafers?

[scaredemkrew]

my friends and i were set upon these beasties which people said were junebugs? but am sure the are summer chafers as they emerged by literally their thousands from st.neots rugby pitch flying at anything that moved or so it seems so obviously seeing a bee like creature you avoid but they keep coming and are oblivious to swats etc so we retreated to cars and observed that when they land they mate so if u stand still thay will land on you to be joined by male and mating occurs-scary but amazing experince and funny when we realise them to be harmless but observe other people goin through the same crazy running swatting routine that we had done!! google summer chafer and there is a boghumper page with a great picture of the fuzzy beastie

[Wild-Woman]

What about a Cockchafer or May-bug as they're sometimes known? They can be about 3cm long.

[eucera]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

What about a Cockchafer or May-bug as they're sometimes known? They can be about 3cm long.

I had rather ruled them out as it seems too late in the year. Also... distinctly "unfuzzy". Summer Chafers are coveed in hair

[saltnester]

I'll go with summer chafer, sounds right. It was probably the evening light made it look so very orange and they could well be a particularly large batch this year...thanks, all.