+Bino-viewer Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) Hi all. While visiting the in laws last weekend, i spotted an unusually large insect flying about, which alerted my Hornet radar. I couldn't get close enough to grab an image, but this evening my step mother in law sent me a couple of cellphone images of this beastie she caught which was crawling along her lounge carpet. Pity i couldn't have seen it with camera. She said it was about the size of her little finger ? Its definitely a Hornet Queen. A bit drowsy after hibernation, hence it being in cockroach mode. They are not terribly good images, but you get the idea.... Edited May 16, 2018 by Bino-viewer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Wow, that's a cutie. Superbly adapted to the life they lead, personally I like them. Did it make it out alive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Yep I like them too. You don't see many of them though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Nasty beastie as much as I love nature I hate hornets ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 That looks massive and could inject a lot of poison. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 I think they probably get a bad press because of their size. They are really quite placid and keep themselves to themselves. I don't think their sting is any worse than your average wasp. I'm not volunteering to try it though....? You may think the little finger size is an exaggeration, but with a queen not so. This is the UKs largest social insect. Triple the size of a wasp. They normally prefer woodland areas, but we had a nest over the road a few years ago. Mind you i am close to a park here. My step mum managed to capture it, and released it outside. They live out in the sticks a bit (Elford, between Burton and Tamworth) and have a few fruit trees in their garden. Come September time you can see the Hornets (and wasps) tucking into whats left of the plumbs and damsons. BAZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 What a beautiful creature. As said they do get a lot of bad press mainly due to ignorance. I have lived in rural Suffolk all my life and in my near 60 years I have never met anyone who has been stung by one. Just about everyone has had an encounter with a wasp which is probably where the phobia comes from. They are an amazing creature. As stated they are very placid and non aggressive. Mind when you are at the top of the food chain you can afford to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 (edited) Mind if it was an Asian hornet they are on the hit list as they destroy honey bees and on the increase in the uk there’s been a sighting in bury in a cauliflower traced back to Boston so authorities now on surveillance in that area Edited May 17, 2018 by Bottletopburly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now