European Hornet - Hibernating Queen

[Bruce Williams]

Taken at Salcey Forest, Northants - 21st January.

On turning over a well rotted oak log, a large section of bark was pulled away from one side and remained on the ground. You can imagine my excitement on seeing this amazingly brightly coloured, hibernating Vespa crabro queen. She was about 3cm long and standing in a head down position - just as you see her in my pic.

The bark was still partly attached to the log (on one side) and there was a large hole in the underside of the log corresponding to the location of the insect. Effectively she was sitting in a chamber about 2.5 inches in diameter.

I took 5 photos - all a bit rushed - before I noticed a slight movement of her wing. At that point I very carefully rolled back the log. I wish I'd had more time to consider my shots.

Anyway when I loaded the pics onto my computer I noticed that her left, rear leg appeared to be damaged (see pic). I guess it must have happened when I rolled over the log. I feel really bad about it and my question is....

Assuming she is safely back in her hibernation chamber, is she likely to survive the winter and will she be able to manage ok with the damaged leg?



Bruce

[ChrisJB]

I don't reckon the 'gammy' leg will be a problem. After all, I have seen plenty of Daddy Long Legs, with as few as four legs, still going about their daily business okay.

I like Hornets and wish we had them here in Lancs. I always enjoy seeing them whenever I visit southern woodlands.

Regards, Chris

[The Woodman]

Fabulous picture of a stunning insect Bruce. She should be fine, they are very resilient and robust.
When I lived on the border of Wiltshire and Somerset, they were common in the oak woods and I had a huge nest in my shed in the drought summer of '76. If I left the kitchen light on at night, they used to fly in through the open window and fly round like crazy sparrows.
I've seen one on two occasions in Cumbria, at both ends of the county.
You're lucky to find a queen.

[Wild-Woman]

Wow! What a beautiful creature. They are awesome beasties and the queens are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing the shot. Great stuff!

[Bruce Williams]

Chris - Thanks for your very positive comments re. her prospects for a healthy future....and yes I do take your point about Daddy Longlegs too.

Woodman - Your confidence in her recouperative ability is very reassuring - Thanks. This is my first contact with the species but I will be looking out for them come spring and summer.

Wild-Woman - Thanks for your comments...and yes she is stunning isn't she! My jaw almost hit the leaf litter when I first saw her - I couldn't believe the brightness and intensity of her colouring.

Bruce

[eucera]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Fabulous picture of a stunning insect Bruce. She should be fine, they are very resilient and robust.
When I lived on the border of Wiltshire and Somerset, they were common in the oak woods and I had a huge nest in my shed in the drought summer of '76. If I left the kitchen light on at night, they used to fly in through the open window and fly round like crazy sparrows.
I've seen one on two occasions in Cumbria, at both ends of the county.
You're lucky to find a queen.

I hope this queen does survive, However, mortality rates in hibernation are often as high as 90%.

I am very interested indeed that you saw hornets in Cumbria. I should love to have details of these and pics (if they exist). These would be easily the most northerly records in Britain. Most records from that part of the world northwards usually turn out to be either the Sawfly Uroceras gigas or, more recently, queens of the wasp Dolichovespula media

[The Woodman]

Hi eucera
I'm afraid I havn't any pictures but I can say I'm familiar with Uroceras and similar beasts.

The north Cumbria hornet was seen in the summer of 2005 in deciduous woodland near Carlisle and the southern, investigating a gap in the bargeboards of my house as I got out of my car in the summer of 2006.

I used to fell oaks in Wiltshire years ago and found many a hornets nest usually in a small hole high up in the trunk or in the crown. They took some time to get angry, unlike wasps, which was fortunate for me, but when they did it was time to get away!

The ability of Uroceras to locate freshly felled and cut softwoods is remarkable, I've seen them land on a stick as soon as it was snedded. What is even more remarkable is how they straddle a favoured spot after searching the bark by "feeling" it with their antennae and insert their ovipositor (the diameter and length of a pin) into solid timber to lay an egg. Try pushing a pin into timber to that depth with your thumb!

I once saw a Uroceras with reversed colouration i.e mainly black with narrow yellow bands. Despite their fearsome appearance, they are harmless and can be held in the hand - unless members have had other experiences.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by eucera

I hope this queen does survive, However, mortality rates in hibernation are often as high as 90%.

I am very interested indeed that you saw hornets in Cumbria. I should love to have details of these and pics (if they exist). These would be easily the most northerly records in Britain. Most records from that part of the world northwards usually turn out to be either the Sawfly Uroceras gigas or, more recently, queens of the wasp Dolichovespula media

If these Cumberland ones are way outside normal range, where are their normal northernmost locations? If they aren't too far away I'll go and have a shuffty in the summer.

Regards, Chris

[eucera]

Exceptionally rare north of the Mersey-Humber line.....

I guess Lincs and Sherwood Forest... and a number of wooded places in mid Derbyshire are about the northern limits. I have seen so-called Scottish Hornets and they were all queens of Dolichovespula media (itself interesting from Scotland).

I would check with local records centres in places like Staffs (where they have a good knowledge of bees & wasps)

Best, Stuart

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Taken at Salcey Forest, Northants - 21st January.

On turning over a well rotted oak log, a large section of bark was pulled away from one side and remained on the ground. You can imagine my excitement on seeing this amazingly brightly coloured, hibernating Vespa crabro queen. She was about 3cm long and standing in a head down position - just as you see her in my pic.

The bark was still partly attached to the log (on one side) and there was a large hole in the underside of the log corresponding to the location of the insect. Effectively she was sitting in a chamber about 2.5 inches in diameter.

I took 5 photos - all a bit rushed - before I noticed a slight movement of her wing. At that point I very carefully rolled back the log. I wish I'd had more time to consider my shots.

Anyway when I loaded the pics onto my computer I noticed that her left, rear leg appeared to be damaged (see pic). I guess it must have happened when I rolled over the log. I feel really bad about it and my question is....

Assuming she is safely back in her hibernation chamber, is she likely to survive the winter and will she be able to manage ok with the damaged leg?



Bruce

That's a stunning photo, very detailed. She's beautiful.