Large Wasp/Hornet Type Pic

[keyffsmyff]

Hi this was caught in Kings Sutton, S. Northants 13/8/07. Any ideas?

[Misanthrope]

Female Urocerus gigas. It's a sawfly.

[Ambriel]

Nasty looking b*gger. Do they sting/bite?

[AndyStillman]

How much damage did it do to your car

[seamusagleann]

more commonly called a wood wasp ,harmless enough, sunday name larch sawfly...

[sleepinabox]

Huge scary looking thing but harmless I think. I saw a live one last week laying eggs in a fallen pine trunk - the long thing that looks like a sting is actually it's ovipositor - it's a female sawfly commonly called a wood wasp. Apparently they lay eggs in dead/fallen/cut pine tress and the grubs emerge up to 3 years later after the timber has been used for people's roofs etc.
Rose

[paulchandler6]

Saw one of these today, a few people nearby thought it was a Hornet, but it was too big for that. Then someone said "what about those French Hornets". I have since checked and I think they were referring to the influx of Asian Hornets that have appeared in France recently. Have any reached Britain yet?

[eucera]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

.....Then someone said "what about those French Hornets". I have since checked and I think they were referring to the influx of Asian Hornets that have appeared in France recently. Have any reached Britain yet?

No. Still a long way away. Vespa velutina (the south east Asian hornet) was imported into France with produce, probably via Bordeaux. They are similar in size to our own hornet, Vespa crabro. On no account should these be confused with the spectacular Oriental Hornet Vespa mandarina, which is much bigger, but is still further away from the UK than the nearest wild population of Bengal Tigers

[keyffsmyff]

thank you folks puts my mind at rest i have a 7 month old who is desperate to get out and about after the rain.

[jacq]

I've just seen one of these entering our sunroom, and disappearing in the timber roof beams.. is it likely to cause damage if left there to lay eggs?

thanks