Giant hornet or Bee (vanity)

me ^ | 9/21/07 | me

[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

[abner]

I’m thinking it is a hornet too. I would rather it was a bee though as the bee population in this country is in a bit of a crisis.

[freedomlover]

[SIDENET]

Just kidding.

[abner]

Radioactive yellow jacket...common since we invaded Iraq

The best kind then!

[Beagle8U]

Where is the photo?

Or did you want us to just guess what it might be?

[nuconvert]

Just a guess. Maybe it was the same one and she’s lost

:~ )

[capt. norm]

I think I know some of those bees.

[chrisser]

I'm certainly not an entomologist, but my guess, based on the size and markings, would be a Giant European Hornet, Vespa crabro germana

Here's a link: http://bugguide.net/node/view/7230

Here's a pic for comparison:

[abner]

Cheese is the best... All kinds cept’ bleu and swiss. YUCK!

I’m not into bees though.

[Lancey Howard]

You should see the big fat carpenter bees I have living in the front porch. Those things have drilled some absolutely amazing tunnels. Every now and then one will accidentally clunk me on the head when I go out the front door. I don’t know if they can sting or not.

[BBell]

It’s a Cicada Killer.Awsome but almost harmless, unless your a cicada.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in573

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/killerwasps.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE5KCTyiLR4

[HerrBlucher]

Yes, if its the giant asian hornet, a freak-out would be understandable. That is one baaaaaaad hornet.

The hornets can devastate a colony of honey bees: a single hornet can kill as many as 40 honey bees per minute, thanks to their large mandibles which can quickly strike and decapitate a bee. It takes only a few of these hornets a few hours to exterminate the population of a 30,000-member hive, leaving a trail of severed insect heads and limbs.

[MarkL]

Whack it hard with insecticide. Or harder with a tennis racket.

Though it would probably do terrible things to your house paint, my preferred anti-wasp weapon is Gunk Engine-Brite (get it at any auto parts store). It's an engine cleaner and degreaser. It doesn't kill the wasp right away, but it immediately dissolves the wasp's wings, so they can't get to you. It kills the wasp a bit slower than the insecticides. It's just that the insecticides I've seen don't immobilize the wasps as quickly as I'd like.

Mark

[Dumpster Baby]

That is particularly nasty breed of hornet:

Killer hornets get a taste for humans

Hornets From Hell

[humblegunner]

It's Satan.

Satan comes with a big scary yellow butt!

[abner]

(BTW this reminds me of the ancient thread where the woman had her foot on a snake while typing on FR...anyone have that link?)

I thought it was a spider...

[nuconvert]

I think she’s looking around for a place to set up shop

[tubebender]

It looks like a really big Hornet to me. Has there been any steroids stolen in the neighborhood?

That is a very nice lite fixture but I don’t think you should put a compact florescence bulb in a enclosed housing. I have read they can overheat...

[Squidpup]

[metmom]

I’ve heard cheap hairspray works well. It dries on their wings like it dries on hair.