Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.

I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests that
hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
bigger than wasps.

Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <462f4c1d$0$4207$ba620d2c@reader.news.heanet.ie>, Des Higgins
 wrote:

> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message
> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> > Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a
> > loud buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising
> > slowly around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
> >
> > I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> > black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests
> > that hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all
> > that much bigger than wasps.
> >
> > Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

> I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not
> get hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen
> hornets that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok,
> I am exaggerating slightly.

Yes, but only slightly! They sound just right.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

Keith

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>,
   Keith Edkins  wrote:
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?

> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm

> Keith
Thank you, a possibility because of its size but I; I got ought to have
noticed its tail; I got the impression of more yellow. I shall just have to
keep my eyes, ears and camera at the ready for another (rather scary) visit.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <462f4c1d$0$4207$ba620d2c@reader.news.heanet.ie>, Des Higgins
 wrote:

> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message
> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> > Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a
> > loud buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising
> > slowly around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
> >
> > I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> > black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests
> > that hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all
> > that much bigger than wasps.
> >
> > Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

> I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not
> get hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen
> hornets that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok,
> I am exaggerating slightly.

Yes, but only slightly! They sound just right.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Des Higgins"  wrote in message
news:462f4c1d$0$4207$ba620d2c@reader.news.heanet.ie...
>
> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message
> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
>> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a
>> loud
>> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
>> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>>
>> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
>> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests
>> that
>> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
>> bigger than wasps.
>>
>> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not
> get hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen
> hornets that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I
> am exaggerating slightly.
>
>>
>> -- 
>> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
>> Buckingham, ENGLAND
>> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>>
The Hornet Clearwing?
A moth "found in most Europe".
"Resembles a Hornet in flight, though it rests with wings
half spread"
"Flies May/July"

From my ancient Collins Guide of Butterflies & Moths

Miles

Miles  observed
>
>"Des Higgins"  wrote in message
>news:462f4c1d$0$4207$ba620d2c@reader.news.heanet.ie...
>>
>> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message
>> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
>>> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a
>>> loud
>>> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
>>> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>>>
>>> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
>>> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests
>>> that
>>> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
>>> bigger than wasps.
>>>
>>> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>>
>> I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not
>> get hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen
>> hornets that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I
>> am exaggerating slightly.
>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
>>> Buckingham, ENGLAND
>>> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>>>
>The Hornet Clearwing?
>A moth "found in most Europe".
>"Resembles a Hornet in flight, though it rests with wings
>half spread"
>"Flies May/July"
>
>From my ancient Collins Guide of Butterflies & Moths

Umm, I wouldn't expect the wingbeat frequency to be high enough in a 
moth to have a 'loud buzzing', but I don't think I've ever seen one, so 
what do I know?

Mike

[The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting]
-- 
  Michael J Davis
<><
Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused
the meaning of "discussion" with "digression".
<><

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a loud
> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>
> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
> that
> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
> bigger than wasps.
>
> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not get 
hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen hornets 
that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I am 
exaggerating slightly.

>
> -- 
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>
>

In article <462f4c1d$0$4207$ba620d2c@reader.news.heanet.ie>, Des Higgins
 wrote:

> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message
> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> > Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a
> > loud buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising
> > slowly around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
> >
> > I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
> > black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests
> > that hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all
> > that much bigger than wasps.
> >
> > Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?

> I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not
> get hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen
> hornets that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok,
> I am exaggerating slightly.

Yes, but only slightly! They sound just right.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Des Higgins"  wrote in message
news:462f4c1d$0$4207$ba620d2c@reader.news.heanet.ie...
>
> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message
> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
>> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a
>> loud
>> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
>> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>>
>> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
>> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests
>> that
>> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
>> bigger than wasps.
>>
>> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>
> I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not
> get hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen
> hornets that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I
> am exaggerating slightly.
>
>>
>> -- 
>> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
>> Buckingham, ENGLAND
>> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>>
The Hornet Clearwing?
A moth "found in most Europe".
"Resembles a Hornet in flight, though it rests with wings
half spread"
"Flies May/July"

From my ancient Collins Guide of Butterflies & Moths

Miles

Miles  observed
>
>"Des Higgins"  wrote in message
>news:462f4c1d$0$4207$ba620d2c@reader.news.heanet.ie...
>>
>> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message
>> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
>>> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a
>>> loud
>>> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
>>> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>>>
>>> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
>>> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests
>>> that
>>> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
>>> bigger than wasps.
>>>
>>> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>>
>> I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do not
>> get hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have seen
>> hornets that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly past.  Ok, I
>> am exaggerating slightly.
>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
>>> Buckingham, ENGLAND
>>> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>>>
>The Hornet Clearwing?
>A moth "found in most Europe".
>"Resembles a Hornet in flight, though it rests with wings
>half spread"
>"Flies May/July"
>
>From my ancient Collins Guide of Butterflies & Moths

Umm, I wouldn't expect the wingbeat frequency to be high enough in a 
moth to have a 'loud buzzing', but I don't think I've ever seen one, so 
what do I know?

Mike

[The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting]
-- 
  Michael J Davis
<><
Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused
the meaning of "discussion" with "digression".
<><

In article <GqwYFJEmR0OGFwxm@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid>, Michael J Davis
<?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Miles  observed
> >
> >"Des Higgins"  wrote in message
> >news:462f4c1d$0$4207$ba620d2c@reader.news.heanet.ie...
> >>
> >> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message
> >> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> >>> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a
> >>> loud buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising
> >>> slowly around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
> >>>
> >>> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression
> >>> of black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book
> >>> suggests that hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are
> >>> not all that much bigger than wasps.
> >>>
> >>> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
> >>
> >> I am not sure which species you get in the UK (Vespa crabro?; we do
> >> not get hornets in Ireland) but in Germany, France and Italy I have
> >> seen hornets that are COLOSSAL.  They darken the sky when they fly
> >> past.  Ok, I am exaggerating slightly.
> >>>
> >The Hornet Clearwing? A moth "found in most Europe". "Resembles a Hornet
> >in flight, though it rests with wings half spread" "Flies May/July"
> >
> >From my ancient Collins Guide of Butterflies & Moths

> Umm, I wouldn't expect the wingbeat frequency to be high enough in a
> moth to have a 'loud buzzing', but I don't think I've ever seen one, so
> what do I know?

Just what I was thinking. It certainly knew where it was going when it flew
off, making a "hornet line" into wind at a fair speed.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Almost certainly a hornet - from your description. I have seen these often 
in southern France and a few days ago found one walking around inside my 
(unlit) wood burning stove in Essex. Naturally, I did not open the door. I 
have also seen them in my porch, attracted by the light.
There is a good selection of pictures at 
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/wasps_3.html

Neil


"Keith Edkins"  wrote in message 
news:evu9rc$ecp$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk...
> Maybe a horntail/wood wasp (Urocerus gigas)?
>
> http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/P8/P8063.php
> http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/urocerus.htm
>
> Keith
>
> "Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
> news:4ed39b7df6rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
>> Moving containers in the garden shed this morning I was startled by a 
>> loud
>> buzzing. A huge, 3 cm long, wasp like creature started cruising slowly
>> around brushing aside any cobweb in its way.
>>
>> I was not going to get near enough to annoy it! I got the impression of
>> black and yellow stripes of about equal width. My insect book suggests 
>> that
>> hornets, like wasps, have only thin black bands and are not all that much
>> bigger than wasps.
>>
>> Was this a queen hornet or some European immigrant?
>>
>> -- 
>> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
>> Buckingham, ENGLAND
>> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
>>
>>
>
>