large wasp

[EdWhite]

We saw this large wasp (about 40mm long) in our garden in Gloucestershire today. It seemed to be looking for a nest / hibernation place. Can anyone identify it please?[url=http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/showphoto.php?photo=142396][/url

[Jim Ford]

Hornet - nice insect!

Jim

[owlfield]

I had one of these on my runner beans today. I have never seen one in the garden before and my insects book says they are rare. Are they getting more common? I am in north Warwickshire.

[Jim Ford]

They're not as common as wasps, but not really rare. They're predominantly a woodland insect. They keep themselves to themselves and don't make a nuisance of themselves like wasps.

Jim

[xSarahx]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

They keep themselves to themselves and don't make a nuisance of themselves like wasps.

Jim

Does that mean they are not agressive? My insect book says they are not, but a friend who works at a local nature reserves tells me they are just as agressive as wasps! Is this true?
By the way, i thought i had found a strange looking hornet in the graden a week or so ago, but it turned out to be a median wasp queen!

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by xSarahx

Does that mean they are not agressive? My insect book says they are not, but a friend who works at a local nature reserves tells me they are just as agressive as wasps! Is this true?
By the way, i thought i had found a strange looking hornet in the graden a week or so ago, but it turned out to be a median wasp queen!

I'd agree with those that state that they're not aggressive. I got very close (less than 1 meter) to a nest in our porch once and just got a warning 'dab' on the hand by one. It didn't hurt much and just felt warm after about 10 mins..

I wouldn't even say that wasps are aggressive - they're just ready to defend themselves if they feel they're threatened.

Jim

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I'd agree with those that state that they're not aggressive. I got very close (less than 1 meter) to a nest in our porch once and just got a warning 'dab' on the hand by one. It didn't hurt much and just felt warm after about 10 mins..

I wouldn't even say that wasps are aggressive - they're just ready to defend themselves if they feel they're threatened.

Jim

Agreed - I got within a foot of a hornet raiding a spider web on Saturday and I was 10cm from a wasp rasping wood a couple of hours ago! I've been doing this to wasp for the last couple of weeks and had no sign of aggression, in fact they keep flying away when i get to close!

[xSarahx]

i find that when wasps are rasping wood/bricks/eating fallen apples, you can get close to them but any other time they seem to enjoy following me for no reason! it maybe doesnt help that i am not the world's biggest fan of wasps after witnessing a horrific attack on a friend that accidently found a nest! I've never heard anyone scream like that before....

(to be honest, i wasn't the biggest fan before either...!)