Help to identify please??

Ruthieg2008 · #1 (**permalink**) 27-07-2010, 11:41 AM

Hello I've stumbled accross this brilliant site and hope that someone can possibly help me identify what the large wasp like bugs are in my back garden? I live in Somerset (uk) and recently there have been several of these big flying bugs about! Look much like a wasp but bigger about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long and have a very large black stinger thing at the bk about 1cm! Has black and yellow body long curly anntenna and yellow legs! Was thinking maybe horntail but all the web pages I've seen were American and wasn't sure if we actually got them in England? Also are they dangerous/bad sting? They look pretty vicious!!! Any help gratefully received

Jason Claxton · #2 (**permalink**) 27-07-2010, 12:21 PM

Hi Ruthie

We do have Horntails in the country,but they are harmless enough,and are a species of sawfly.However there are some Ichneumon wasps that resemble it and although they are largely passive,may sting in self defence,the kind of self defence I saw a few years back was when got stuck in a friends t-shirt whilst we were mothing and tried to sting its way out...he really did yell...and yell...so I guess they hurt.

Cheers ,Jason

Ruthieg2008 · #3 (**permalink**) 27-07-2010, 03:01 PM

Thanks, it's been really getting to me not knowing what they are and everytime I've been in my garden there's been one! (and if I'm honest I've run away thinking it was some kind of mutant wasp lol) Today one got stuck in a spider web (not a t-shirt thank god!) so I managed to get a really good look without fear of being stung although still felt a bit nervous and the spider had definitely bitten off more than he could chew cause even he gave up in the end! Even though they sound harmless enough I think I'll still be a bit caucious really don't want to be stung! Bit of a whimp when it comes to creepy crawlies! Thanks for letting me know though :-)