Does anyone have a CLUE what this MYSTERY insect could be?

NeenaJade · #1 (**permalink**) 23-02-2011, 10:42 PM

Hey guys, This is my first post on here, So be nice!

I have a story to tell, which happened about three years ago, when I was about 14 years old. basically, I encountered this Really strange Insect, And I am still Baffled to what It could be, even to this day.

I live in a small Village, Which is near the City of London, where there is quite a lot of woodland around me, and my garden happens to back onto a small wood.
At the back of my garden I have a large Barn, which my family use for storage. We have no horses or any large animals living in there, only a few chickens.

About three years ago, during summer, I was venturing up to the top of the garden to the barn with my two seven year old next door neighbors. We were going into the barn to look for some old things that we had stored in there. As I opened the barn door, we were making quite a lot of noise, laughing etc.
We start throwing the dust on the floor around ( the floor is dry dirt which lingers in the air if you throw it)
All of a sudden, there is this really loud Buzzing, something Like a Bee I can remember, and this humongous flying creature appears from one of the dark corners of the barn and suddenly fly's up to the ceiling. ( which is made of clear plastic so the sunlight can get through) It flings itself to the roof, and it then drops to the floor, where it lays on its back buzzing ferociously.
By that time, we had left, screaming and running down back to the house.

After about five minutes, we venture back inside, but the place is completely empty! No sign of it what so ever!

The size of it was about the size of a blackbird, maybe larger ( It was huge)
It was completely black, and had one Large Yellow/ orange stripe down its middle ( i think)

I have no clue to what it could be, it was huge - something you might have seen in a movie!

Could someone please give insight to what it could be?

Thanks

x

Matt Smith · #2 (**permalink**) 23-02-2011, 10:56 PM

Sounds to me like a Giant Woodwasp - a large but harmless wood boring sawfly. Did it look anything like this: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/...f7aa696c58.jpg

We don't have any insects as big as a blackbird, though it may have appeared much larger at the time

NeenaJade · #3 (**permalink**) 23-02-2011, 11:05 PM

Noo It was A Lot bigger than that, Thicker Bodied and All... And it had a lot less Yellow, more blackness.
Thanks anyway ! x

Fauna · #4 (**permalink**) 24-02-2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeenaJade

Noo It was A Lot bigger than that, Thicker Bodied and All... And it had a lot less Yellow, more blackness.
Thanks anyway ! x

As Matt has already pointed out, we don't have anything the size of blackbirds. Have you ruled out one of the larger Dragonfly species...something along the lines of Golden-ringed Dragonfly?

Also, check out the Common Club-tailed Dragonfly, did it look anything like that?

Regards Chris...

Lancashire Lad · #5 (**permalink**) 24-02-2011, 09:53 AM

Although the possible yellow stripe wouldn't fit, I would hazard a guess that this might have been a cockchafer. (Or a startled bat!!).

Regards,
Mike.

NeenaJade · #6 (**permalink**) 24-02-2011, 10:22 AM

Hey Guys thanks for the ideas, but no, It isn't like anything like that!

If I described it better that might help... Or It might Not even me known of yet!

I'd say its body was really think and sturdy, almost like a hornet or something.
It was Jet back, wings, body and head, and had a single line of yellow down its middle ( when i say the middle I mean the tail section)

I am pretty sure it wasn't a bat or another insect, because when it flew it to the floor it was making a horrific buzzing noise, and it's wings were vibrating as a other flying insects would when they lie on their back.

Thanks again guys!

The Woodman · #7 (**permalink**) 24-02-2011, 11:11 AM

Did you store any firewood or freshly cut timber e.g. planks in the barn?

nightshade · #8 (**permalink**) 24-02-2011, 11:40 AM

The only thing that has flown at me like that was a Bumble Bee queen, she came out of my garage from the darkness and looked the size of a golf ball
before she zoomed off into the blue.
http://www.bumblebee.org/terr.htm

freestone · #9 (**permalink**) 24-02-2011, 11:53 AM

hi,my guess would be privet hawk moth-they are huge and black and stripey!also can make buzzy sound if its flapping against a light or something.Cheers.

Dogghound · #10 (**permalink**) 24-02-2011, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeenaJade

The size of it was about the size of a blackbird, maybe larger ( It was huge)
It was completely black, and had one Large Yellow/ orange stripe down its middle ( i think)

You over estimating the size considerably, I dont think any insect in the world is as big as a blackbird.

Are you sure it wasnt a swallow or such like or a bat (as suggested)?