Huge wasps

[bayswater]

Over the last two days we have been invaded by huge wasps, we have had to get rid of 6 so far. They must be 3 - 4cm long and make our comon wasps look silly.

We live in oxford, does anyone have any idea what they are - i've never seen them before.

[ruthann58]

are they hornets do you think

[horsestache1]

I've seen them too, to me they seem fatter and bigger than a hornet, also the ones I've seen have a smaller sting in proportion to there body than a hornet.

They are quite scary

I'm in hampshire by the way

[Annlinda]

try this website

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2007/may/ne ws_11635.html

shows asian wasp, common wasp and hornet side by side

[horsestache1]

Yep Annlinda, that looks like the blighter hornet queen, thanks

[bayswater]

Thanks for all your answers

great - that kind of looks like it, i think i'll catch one next time and show it to a pest controller that we have come here.

[masterchef]

Last year there were huge wasps here in Norfolk and the newspapers were saying that they were Eurowasps.