If you look at its markings more closely, it looks Asian to me.
Posted on 09/21/2007 8:40:05 PM PDT by abner
Alright, I am at a loss and am posting my first real vanity post.
Stupid I know so try to go easy. I am trying to identify a giant hornet or bee. This thing has been hanging out on our outside light for at least 2 evenings. Tonight I had my better half take photos.
In looking at forums, I haven't really been able to identify this other than the frightening Asian Giant Hornet. I really don't want this to be that as it would have a tendency to really freak me out.
Whatever this is is about 2 inches long and at least one of its kind is active in the evening.
For some really cool pics of the monster - see here: http://www.usflagballoon.com/2007season/hornetorbee.htm
The male carpenters do not sting...intimidate.
If you paint the wood they will not bore. There is a spray for them. Harmless but look bad.
Jim
Sorry, but you are incorrect.
Since I love the outdoors, have spent a lot of my lifetime outside, I’ve been stung by a variety of wasps.
Last week, while refilling a hummingbird feeder, I had an encounter with yellow jackets. I never want to be stung by another yellow jacket, it hurts worse than any bee sting. I had one of these kamakazies fly up under my T-shirt and pop me several times on the back. They are aggressive.
Abner, if you see a yellow jacket, get a blowtorch out and incinerate it and all its fellow hive members.
Not kidding. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/735901/posts
=8-0
Had one of those darn things fly down the front of my shirt too. Stung me on the chest and hurt like the Devil. If you get stung by one again, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the sting site. Pain goes away almost immediately.
If you look at its markings more closely, it looks Asian to me.
If you look at its markings more closely, it looks Asian to me.
Here's a pic of a nest:
(And what is apparently the queen's sex slave.)
Here’s what you do: Let it sting you. If it hurts really bad, it’s a bee, if you fall to the ground and start sobbing uncontrollably, it’s a hornet...
I can’t spray them because it would kill the moths too. If I were you, I’d spray the dam thing.
Then break out the Shop Vac and the longest extension...when it is dusk or dark that will work just fine..(Just don’t empty it our for a day or so.
W
How's the bug?
Fascinating stuff.. .
Excellent!
Hey, I have some cool moth pics...
Seen in our travels with the balloons.
The 2nd one was in WV this August and to my surprise, when I was editing it, I noticed it picked a bad place to lay its eggs. . . On top of a car.
There has been lots of threads on FR about the loss of honeybees this last few years. You may have one of the reason crawling on your light.
That would be my best bet... and yes we have the giant cicada killers here, it is not one of those.
We call them Woods Hornets here in Virginia. They are quite common in the fall and have a very nasty temper. That said it might be a queen Woods Hornet looking for a place to hole up for the winter.
SF
I raise about 30-40 of the first (Cecropia) and several hundred of the poly's every year.
THIS is a Cicada Killer Sphecius speciosus 
THIS is a Giant Hornet Vaspa crabro
Although both WILL eat cicadas. The true "Cicada Killer" is Sphecius speciosus
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