hoverfrog Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 we have a lot of huge wasps - not the usual kind, these are the size of large queen wasps and are brown and yellow more than black and yellow.They are not the size of hornets though - somewhere inbetween a wasp and a hornet.Anyone know anything about them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 Not like this?[img]http://patwo.com/insect/images/frelon.gif[/img]Hornet sizes do seem to be quite variable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 Just a bit of an idea / question, what are they using as a food source and when they settle do they close their wings against their body or do the wings remain stuck out at an angle?Chris.L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoverfrog Posted August 1, 2006 Author Share Posted August 1, 2006 not sure about the wings - they don't settle until treated to enough insecticide :)Similar colouring to the picture, but ours seem to be a bit more rounded - although not as big or as rounded as the local population of hornets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 It's difficult to arrive at any definitive answer without actually seeing them, but I suspect there is a good chance that you are killing something beneficial, there are several insects that mimic wasps and frelons.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoverfrog Posted August 4, 2006 Author Share Posted August 4, 2006 I looked up hornets on the web, and yes they do appear to be them!The next question, of course, is what actually are the monstrous rounded brown things that the locals call frelons??? I haven't found any pictures remotely like them on the net! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 HF. A frelon is a hornet, what your locals call a frelon is anyones guess if it's not a frelon..They can be a funny lot the "locals".Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 I've often worked in woodland near hornets nests without problem. So long as you don't crash a tree on their nest or go too close they're fine, I find them far more intelligent than wasps.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Who's the nutter with the chainsaw, Chris? I saw a funny thing the other day, wasp-like but loooong body. About 3-4cm long with a prominent yellow head and very bright yellow tail, black body. Very long yellow legs. Hovering and darting flight, like a dragonfly in habit. It was buzzing around some shrubs and didn't look like something to tangle with. I've heard of something called an asile-frelon that eats flies and wasps. Anyone confirm what they look like and if it is likely to be what I saw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 My mentor and idol Cassis, taught me alot about cutting stuff other than wood with our wee toys. He can get blood out of a stone....he's OK once you get to know him.Could it have been a 'humming bird moth'? Did it have a rather pronounced probiscus?Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 No, not a hummingbird moth. I know those. This was a ferocious looking thing, the stuff of nightmares! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 [quote user="Chris Head"]My mentor and idol Cassis, taught me alot about cutting stuff other than wood with our wee toys. He can get blood out of a stone....he's OK once you get to know him.Could it have been a 'humming bird moth'? Did it have a rather pronounced probiscus?Chris[/quote] With friends like him who needs enemies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Does look a bit Texas Chainsaw ... [:'(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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