Looked like a wasp...

beakysian · #1 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 11:50 AM

Hi, I'm new here and wonder if anyone can help to identify a mean looking creature that flew into my house last week - I haven't found a likely looking description anywhere. I'm afraid I didn't get a very good look because I was preoccupied with removing said creature from my kitchen but it was approx. 1/2 inch long, dark in colour like a Mediterranean hornet but didn't seem to have a segmented body. It hung in the air quite steadily and had sets of legs hanging down - not just the one set as I have now read is common in wasps. It didn't buzz very loudly.

Can anyone help? Thanks.

ChrisR · #2 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 01:04 PM

Not a lot to go on really ... a picture would have said 1000 words

It could have been any number of things, such as a hoverfly or ichneumon even. Did it have any pattern or was it a plain brown/black colour?

Geoff F · #3 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 07:37 PM

If it was hovering, then a hoverfly is quite possible. There are several fairly large dark species to choose from.

To start with, have a look at Eristalis tenax, or slightly heavier in build Merodon equestris dark form.

Volucella zonaria is a large species which resembles a dark hornet and can be found indoors. Not common and mostly found in the south though.