Wasp Hornet ID. please!

[bernie williams]

These chaps where in the roof space, They have been removed now but when they where about I have never experienced such anger in an insect attacking everything nearby with a liquid dropping from the rear, and a very very!! loud humming noise. I managed to get one photo close up on the glass. The chap that delt with them said he had never seen anything that big since he has done this job and believed them to be German wood wasps.. but looking online this wasp looks nothing like that. Infact I have never seen a wasp that has eyes like this!! More something out of a scifi movie!



Every wasp was about 5cm in size.. maybe a vespa wasp?

Many thanks

Bernie

[ladyhawk]

When you stand on a wasp nest you learn to run like Seb Coe, Hornet I think Vespa carbro or not ?

[JRsbugs]

Oh dear Bernie, how sad they had to be killed, I assume that's what happened to them.

This is Vespa crabro ssp. vexator, Britain's own version of the Hornet. They are gentle giants really, they make a big noise and sound frightening but I doubt they are a threat.

I have these, they come for my grapes in the greenhouse every year, they are more afraid of me than I am of them.

Yes they would try to deter anyone invading their nest, wouldn't you?

Anyway, welcome with sadness. Most of us here love to see these beautiful creatures, I hope you learn more about other wasps. I have just about every species of Vespula and am thrilled to see them, hornets are icing on the cake.

Janet

[Gill Catton]

Yes hornets are ace and they are always polite enough to give you a buzzed warning before they attack, and usually completely ignore you until you are within a foot of a nest. If they were aggressive while their nest was being destroyed - who can blame them!

They can be quite a useful animal to have around as the glean off other insects from the surrounding area that may otherwise be damaging garden plants.