Large Wasp/Bee-like Creature

Chrissie2 · #1 (**permalink**) 30-10-2009, 05:21 PM

Two or three times this year, I have seen a huge wasp/bee-like creature in the garden and once indoors. It is about 2 inches long and furry, like a large bumble bee, but about half-an-inch wide. It's buzz is like a loud lazy drone, rather than the angry buzz of a wasp and it flies slowly like a large bee. The colouring is yellow and black, though not so defined as a wasp because of the furry coating. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera at the ready each time I saw it. Does anyone know what it is, please?

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 30-10-2009, 05:27 PM

Hi Chrissie, and welcome to WAB

Could you get a photo or upload a colour drawing? A location and exact time of year could help, too.

Take care,

Jason

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 30-10-2009, 07:04 PM

Maybe a queen bumblebee?

Geoff F · #4 (**permalink**) 30-10-2009, 07:26 PM

Yes that's what I thought. Maybe a Bombus terrestris queen.

Not quite 2 ins but they can look larger than they actually measure.

Chrissie2 · #5 (**permalink**) 31-10-2009, 10:30 AM

Thank you all for your replies. It definitely wasn't a Queen Bumblebee, though - wrong shape and not so cuddly looking - I have seen enough of those in the past to know the difference!!!LOL This was more slender and the colouring more subdued. Maybe two inches was exaggerating slightly and it was more like one and a half inches long. It settled indoors, so I was able to more or less gauge the length by what it settled on. But it was definitely much bigger than anything I have seen in the UK before.

All three sightings were during the last six weeks. Of course, it could have been the same one three times.

Of course, if I see it again, I will do my best to get a picture. Failing that, I will make a rough drawing.

Thanks again.

leedspest · #6 (**permalink**) 31-10-2009, 10:36 AM

Queen wasp looking for somewhere to overwinter i had one trying to have a kip in my smoke alarm a few weeks ago.

Geoff F · #7 (**permalink**) 31-10-2009, 08:11 PM

The only other suggestions that I can think of to check out are a hornet or a horntail, but I wouldn't really describe either as furry.

A hoverfly may be worth a look. Perhaps a Volucella species although it is getting a bit late. Eristalis tenax or E. pertinax (Drone Fly) is a rather hardy alternative but a bit on the small size.

Chrissie2 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-11-2009, 10:53 AM

This is an article I found on Google which accompanies a picture of three different types of hornet, the European, Asian and Oriental. The Oriental is the one my creature most looked like, although this report says that it probably won't reach the UK 'in the near future'. (This article was from May 2007) It gives the following description:

Oriental Hornet, Vespa mandarina
A recent BBC documentary has brought the Oriental hornet to the attention of the UK public. 'V. mandarina is a much larger species than our native hornet, up to 7cm in length,' says Stuart.

'This is, at present, confined to Japan and surrounding areas and will not be making an appearance in the UK in the near future'.

I have put a copy of the picture in the library, under Unidentified Insects.

Jason Green · #9 (**permalink**) 01-11-2009, 11:12 AM

I have just had a look - Unidentified Insects - Wild About Britain Pics - but can't see it. I subsequently searched your Username but the Image Archive didn't come up with anything.

Can you re-upload?

Chrissie2 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-11-2009, 12:08 PM

Hi Jason I am not really sure how to do this, but I clicked on the 'library images' icon and the above url came up. I am not sure whether this transfers to a picture when it reaches the message board. So, here goes!!