What is this flying bug? [links to pics inside].

June 16, 2010 10:35 AM

What is this flying bug? [links to pics inside]. From the file name, you can see we speculate that it is a hornet. This is possible where we are - the Ashdown Forest area of Mid Sussex, England - but it could also be a large wasp. This is relevant to us as my friend's 11 year old has had an enormous allergic reaction to a bee sting on his forehead 2 days ago, and looks like a junior albino Na'vi right now. The beast was shoo-ed by me into the gap of our double glazing, where I took these pics an hour ago. Cheers!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40337399@N02/4706174033/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40337399@N02/4706815070/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40337399@N02/4706817728/

posted by dash_slot- to science & nature (6 answers total)

European giant hornet
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:37 AM on June 16, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40337399@N02/4706174033/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40337399@N02/4706815070/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40337399@N02/4706817728/
posted by Daddy-O at 10:37 AM on June 16, 2010

BTW, it is about 1.5 inches long [c.3.75cm]
posted by dash_slot- at 10:38 AM on June 16, 2010

I believe Cool Papa Bell has it.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:41 AM on June 16, 2010

Yup, European hornet. The giveaway is - apart from the size - the reddish-brown color of the legs. Common wasps are black and yellow over here, and a good bit smaller (and more obnoxious).
Look at the link (Cool Papa Bell's post): European hornets are huge but not too aggressive (the scary bit is that they're really fast flyers, they seem to arrive from nowhere...), and besides protected in most European countries.
posted by Namlit at 11:32 AM on June 16, 2010

Thanks so much. Our thoughts confirmed. My godson decided we must rescue and release the beast, partly as the size hinted that this may have been a queen and so ... I caught it in a jamjar, fed it some sugar water and released it. There is a wee video at www.YouTube.com/johnnydee22 titled 'Hornet 16/06/2010 Forest Row' , where I filmed this poor exhausted beast drinking the not-quite-nectar before I gave it it's freedom. Cheers, all!
posted by dash_slot- at 3:14 PM on June 16, 2010