Yuk! Need help identifying a insect

Mariealana · #1 (**permalink**) 15-08-2010, 02:45 AM

I think I have a wasp nest in my roof but they are normal black and yellow wasps and they are normal sized haha.
This thing (I'm gonna call it Queen wasp) was at least 5 times the size of a normal wasp but it had a full round body like a bee...it might actually be a bee rather than a wasp.
It had a black body with orange zigzags across it (4 thick zigzag lines), the body looked like it was in segments (think cockroach), with big round wings and a big stinger on the tail, black head. Also it's face is that of a wasp. It was flying around knocking into my light all the time, then when I poked it with a fly catcher, it fell to the floor (it was hiding under the light strip) so I put a glass over it and it was upside down but still alive and buzzing at me. It couldn't turn upright for some reason. I promptly threw it out the house. It looked like it was fried half to death by my light strips. Now the reason I'm worried is because [a] I'm allegic to wasps and bees and [b] I have a newborn and a three year old in the house.
It isn't a wood wasp either. And it's odd it went for the light like a moth.

Can anyone identify this thing for me? Is it harmless? If there is one, does that mean I have a nest somewhere?

I live in North Wales, 900ft up a mountain if that helps. Lots of trees, grass, sheep, cows, bats and of course mountains. We do get beetles but this isn't a Sexton beetle. It's defo a bee or wasp. The stinger was longer than that of a wasp or bee though and when I had it in the glass upside-dwon, the stinger curled up (whether this was to do with the fact it got semi fried to death or not I don't know).

tristanba · #2 (**permalink**) 15-08-2010, 11:34 AM

sounds like it might be the Wood Wasp Uroceras gigas, rather large and formidable looking, but completely harmless. The large 'stinger' is in fact used to lay eggs into the wood of pine trees

Mariealana · #3 (**permalink**) 15-08-2010, 04:35 PM

I found a exact match to what is it - Vespa mandarinia otherwise known as the Giant Asian Hornet. Is it possible that these are in the UK? I'm in a panic now. I went outside and all the bumblebees that hung around my flowers are scattered on the path, all dead. One hell of a coincidence.

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 15-08-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mariealana

I found a exact match to what is it - Vespa mandarinia otherwise known as the Giant Asian Hornet. Is it possible that these are in the UK? I'm in a panic now. I went outside and all the bumblebees that hung around my flowers are scattered on the path, all dead.

To the best of my knowledge there have been no verifiable records of this species from the UK.

Mariealana · #5 (**permalink**) 15-08-2010, 04:56 PM

Hope your right *shudder* I hate wasps and hornets. If I see another, I shall catch it and freeze it so I can take a photo of it for you guys.

NickCantle · #6 (**permalink**) 15-08-2010, 05:01 PM

Just try and take a picture without freezing it

Mariealana · #7 (**permalink**) 15-08-2010, 05:13 PM

I'll probably just freak out and put a glass over it like I did yesterday haha. I never thought to take a photo though.

Yeah come to think of it, I don't think I want it near me food anyway, frozen or not.

Half of me hopes I see it again/another one again so I can identify it and the other half hopes I don't because wasp/bee/hornet stings are fatal for me.

Oh well, for now I'm gonna assume it's a different breed of wood wasp and watch what I let in from now on haha.