Seen a hornet in the garden

[womble]

Well chuffed, my DD called me over to see something that she didn't know what it was and it was a hornet, perched, so we got really close and it was beautiful.

First one I've certainly seen that close before, made my day

[nmayhew]

take care!

be CAREFUL!!!

friend got stung in forehead last year by one and had to go to hospital TWICE!!

they can be extremely aggressive and territorial, so personally i think you're a bit bonkers, but whatever works for you!

[Madasafish]

When working in a forest a friend disturbed a hornets' nest. We ran half a mile to escape . Horrible stings..

[womble]

Well the RSPB say "Hornets have an unwarranted fearsome reputation, but will only sting humans if attacked"

And it never bothered us. But then I don't jump into the air everytime a buzzy things comes past me, arms flailing.

[nmayhew]

my fingers are crossed for you that you don't get stung

my mate was not "attacking" anything, but obviously got too close to the nest - point is he reckons he was a good 10yds away when the proverbial cross-hairs appeared on his temple and THWACK!!! he got stung...

[IgglePiggle]

And it never bothered us. But then I don't jump into the air everytime a buzzy things comes past me, arms flailing.

I do that! I'm getting abit better with bee's but if something does buzz near me I'm off! I'm sure the bluebottles do it for a laugh

[lettucegrow!]

beautiful!!! what are you on????? they are huge overgrown wasps. I was told they would attack and chase if they were disturbed and got angry.I thought they were really scary looking. saw one once on a school camping trip making a nest with a nest with it's mates in our outside loo. I was supposed to be the sensible adult in charge and tried to be really calm as we left the camp area for someone to deal with them(I didn't watch)

[Alice]

I don't get freaky about buzzy things in the garden either womble but hornets are bad news. If there's one there will be a nest somewhere. If it was me I would track the nest and have it destroyed by the professionals.

[frias]

I had a bumble bee in the car with me yesterday. I just opened the window and off he went. I'm still wondering if he got home though as don't know when he actually got in the car!

[womble]

Can I just quote what the natural history museum says about them. You will believe them, right?
"Less aggressive

Despite their intimidating size and rattling sound, V. crabro tends to behave less aggressively than other social wasps and is certainly less prone to attack and sting. The queen is actually larger in size than the Asian hornet.

The sting of V. crabro is said to be no worse than other species of social wasp despite their size. It is used as defence but is principally used to immobilise their insect prey, which are macerated (chewed up and made soft) and fed to the hornet larvae."

It certainly didn't seem to be aggressive to me and I most certainly am not going to find the nest (even if I could) and destroy it. Last year we had a wasp nest right next to the currant bushes in the lawn, I expect most people would call in the exterminators and freak, but we just lived with it, without any problems at all. My five year old now knows all about them, doesn't freak out when something buzzy comes near her and that is something I am proud of.
Also we got a hell of alot of free pest control last year, I wish they were here this year!

[Lucylou0069]

Must admit, i've never seen a hornet, ever. But i've always liked wildlife and myself would love to see one, so i don't think you're that mad. Although i would keep my distance somewhat! How big was it??

[lettucegrow!]

OK,but I still don't want to sit next to one!

[womble]

It wasn't that big, wasn't a queen hornet or anything like that, about twice the size of a normal wasp I would think.
It was my DD that saw it, she noticed it was something different and we have an agreement that she calls me over if she doesn't know what it is, then either I tell her what it is, or normally as she manages to find extremely rare and unusual things, so I have to go and look them up
There is a clip on utube of someone who has caught a queen hornet under a glass, now that baby is going to be seriously not happy and I would expect someone to be stung if they are not careful.

I wouldn't keep my distance from a normal wasp, so I didn't think a hornet would be any different and it wasn't, it ignored us as long as we didn't threaten it. I wouldn't be so stupid to make loud noises or threatening gestures next to a hornet nest however....... or bee or normal wasp nest either. Or my neighbours house

[rana]

I disturbed a hornet while pruning a tree last week. No problem, it just buzzed around a bit then went about it's business as I continued to saw off branches. Having watched these fascinating beasts at fairly close quarters for some time I have come to the conclusion that they are not at all aggressive. I can only assume (from my experience) that those who get stung have accidently caught them or have been flailing away like a human windmill in their presence. I would also suggest that incidence of hornet stings is far less likey than that of wasps as they are less attracted by picnic or bbq food.

Until I saw these creatures for myself I also believed in their unjustified fearsome reputation.

[womble]

I was eating outside once and was with a load of people. A few wasps came over to see what there was to eat, I told them that if they just all sat still and didn't bother them, they wouldn't be much of a nuisance, do you think it worked?
For about 5 seconds then everyone started flapping and hitting the wasps. My DD just looked at me and said "they shouldn't be doing that Daddy" I agreed so we removed ourselves from the area, while they killed the wasps, how no one got stung I have no idea. Then a few more wasps arrived so we all went indoors.

You were the first to run away, I was told....... Yes because you lot are blinkin idiots, they were told back.