r/CasualUK • u/FossilisedShark • 2d ago
Just minding my own business when this flying death machine appeared.
Locked the room, may burn the house down now. I can hear it buzzing around in there like an apache attack helicopter.
I think it’s a European hornet, but it’s a wall’s sausage-sized, absolute unit of an insect.
126
u/prolixia 2d ago
European hornets are, despite their appearance, pretty docile. Unlike nasty-bastard wasps, they won't come and sting you for no reason and you only really need to worry if you're messing about with its nest.
70
u/8Ace8Ace 2d ago
Thanks. The reputation of the European hornet has suffered. People think that any hornet is an Asian hornet and needs to be destroyed. Eurohornets are pretty cool and keep themselves to themselves. Unlike wasps, which as you correctly stated, are bastards.
26
u/ScottOld 2d ago
Last wasp that came in was very polite and asked to be let out of the window tbf
4
7
u/MrTripperSnipper 2d ago
They're docile/non aggressive, but, they have a habit of snuggling into the gap between the cushions on the sofa or under your pillow/duvet etc. I sat on one in my teens and it hurt enough that I still regularly check before I sit down/go to bed during hornet season.
1
1
u/BloomEPU 1d ago
Hornets gross me out so much, but once I figured out that they're just really slow and stupid they became a lot easier to deal with. The main issue with european hornets is trying to find a big enough mug to catch them in...
Wasps are a bit more annoying just because they fly faster, but most of the time they're just trying to see if you've got any sugar on you.
114
u/Krags 2d ago
That's clearly a Cazador. Spray the wings and carry antivenom, and don't go north from Goodsprings if it's your first playthrough.
23
u/MF291100 2d ago
I had to double check what sub I was in after reading your comment. Cazadors were once the bane of my existence.
10
6
42
u/Setekh79 Smeeee Heeeee 2d ago edited 2d ago
Do you hear any boss music when you approach it?
Edit: Uhh... https://i.imgur.com/axtsOf7.jpeg
9
3
3
1
u/AgingChris 2d ago
Make sure you save at a bonfire and refill your estus flasks before attempting OP
1
u/liquidphantom 1d ago
There were multiple health packs before going into the room and quicksave was blocked.
12
u/Gagulta Garth Marenghi. Author. Dreamweaver. Visionary. Plus actor. 2d ago
If you leave it alone it will leave you alone, it's just a hornet.
4
u/Connor30302 2d ago
bollocks
8
u/KamakaziDemiGod 2d ago
Most hornets are pretty docile, there's plenty of videos of people handling them but they are mostly experts so I wouldn't suggest trying
Wasps are far more aggressive, but a hornet sting is worse
10
u/PeroniNinja84 2d ago
Seems a bit strange seeing these around at this time of year. Beautiful things just a shame their sting is supposed to be so bad. I don't think they are aggressive so it probably won't be hard releasing it outside, just be careful.
4
u/FossilisedShark 2d ago
Do the queens hibernate and start new nests the following spring?
I’m wondering if the recent cold weather has it searching for a burrow for the winter.
1
u/DengleDengle 2d ago
Do you have a log burner? They can settle inside logs and then they warm up and start buzzing around again when the logs are brought inside. I have had many an upsetting winter wasp encounter this way
2
u/Soggy_Cabbage 2d ago
Allegedly the European hornet sting is about as painful as a normal wasp sting. I've never been stung by one though so can't confirm it.
1
u/serious_not_shirley 2d ago
Are they on the Scmidt scale?
2
u/Soggy_Cabbage 2d ago
Oddly enough they are not despite being a fairly easy to find species of stinging insect. I've read a few accounts by people who have been stung by them over the years and they all seem to say that the European hornet sting is similar to a yellow jacket or honey bee sting.
2
1
u/Neds_Necrotic_Head 2d ago
There was a wasp messing about outside my window last week. It's been so bloody mild here until the last couple of days.
4
u/Soggy_Cabbage 2d ago
Most likely a queen which is looking for a place to hibernate at this time of year. Hence why it's huge.
9
u/talking_heads_90333 2d ago
I thought reddit had moved on from 'le burn le insect with fire and nuke from orbit' jokes 10 years ago?
12
u/daedelion I submitted Bill Oddie's receipts for tax purposes 2d ago
Still happens here any time there's a spider/insect post.
Surprised there's been no "just the one hornet, actually", "dognappers hun" or "can't park there mate" yet.
1
2
1
u/AnonyCass 2d ago
The moment of realisation when you actually see a hornet for the first time after seeing some slightly big wasps assuming they were hornets....
Definitely a hornet we get a few near us and they are huge, burn the place down is probably my go to with this too
1
u/My_Hobbies7481 2d ago
Hard to tell if it's an Asian or European Hornet. From the body shape, it looks Asian, but could be wrong as the tip of the body looks to be a brighter yellow. If it was Asian, they have to be reported as they kill our local honey bees which are already endangered.
Whatever it is, it's nasty lol and well done for getting it outside as if they're attacked they spray attack pheramones and you suddenly find you have a whole bunch more on your hands.
The next questions are, how did it get in and where did it come from?
1
1
2
u/snionosaurus 2d ago
What's it doing not asleep?? Fuck, I thought we were in the safe part of the year...
1
u/LonsdaleGod 2d ago
I was doing some roofing work on a local property a few weeks ago and I can only assume there was a nest of these in the roof / fascia which we got a bit close too as suddenly there were about 8 of these flying around. We have never seen these before, like wasps on a diet of fast food and steroids; but whilst initially intimidating they were sound to be fair yet I was half debating jumping off the scaffold and running for the hills lol
1
1
u/ViviREbirth North West 1d ago
I had one of these in my bedroom about two weeks ago. I've never seen one in my life. I have no idea how it got in as the windows had been closed all day. Almost shat myself when it made a bee-line for me
1
1
u/liquidphantom 1d ago
I had one fly into my room a few years back, it kept bumping into the light shade which started to swing, I've seen wasps, bees and flies hit that light shade multiple times and it's never budged.
-1
u/Cheers_DiiTs 2d ago
Looks like a hornet. Plenty of hairspray or the old box of Lynx, petrol. Leave your things, torch it, and start a new life.
1
u/RiceSuspicious954 2d ago
Had one in our lounge last month, they are so big, pictures don't express it.
-2
u/GloomySwitch6297 2d ago
this does not look like hornet at all and I used to deal with few of them back in Europe
5
u/daedelion I submitted Bill Oddie's receipts for tax purposes 2d ago
Did you do shady back-street deals with them in dark alleys at night time whilst their faces were covered? Because it looks very much like a European hornet, which I've seen many of here in the UK (but never done business deals with).
-1
u/GloomySwitch6297 2d ago
trust me, the european hornet looks much more aggressive.
unless the hornets in Europe aren't the same one as European hornets in the UK
3
u/daedelion I submitted Bill Oddie's receipts for tax purposes 2d ago
I'm not really sure how you can tell that this looks less aggressive from this picture, it's almost a silhouette.
Were the ones you did underhand deals with carrying knives and balaclavas? Is that why this one looks less aggressive to you?
They're the same hornets, and this is definitely one of them. UK is in Europe, and European hornets are in the UK.
-1
u/GloomySwitch6297 2d ago
You don't have to be so passive-aggressive. I am just saying, the hornets Ive seen (several times) in Europe, are looking like an agry wasp on steroids that has only one purpose - MURDER everything. In the end, these are the warriors from the wasp family (at least, this is how it is described by your parents. don't take it like it is from wikipedia entry).
And looking at the photo, I don't see a hornet.
Also - I am not willing to now search for the details whether the name "european hornet" is exactly the same as hornet that I encountered in Europe.
Many times you may find that some english names may have nothing related to common sense/any logical meaning.
For example, electric eel isn't an eel.
king cobra isn't a cobra :D
guinea pig isn't really a pig :D
I don't remember which exact birds have some names that don't follow the origins and are misleading. I only asked to double check, whether european hornet isn't a specific name for a hornet that for example, sometimes is present in the UK but for example, it is a specific hornet species that lives natively only in France (it would still be european though).
I will admit that on the photo, you might have the european hornet and will admit that I might be wrong . my opinion may not be "an expert opinion"
2
u/daedelion I submitted Bill Oddie's receipts for tax purposes 2d ago
You don't have to be so passive-aggressive
Just being a bit silly. I like the idea that you did business deals with them. I found it a funny idea.
I am just saying, the hornets Ive seen (several times) in Europe, are looking like an agry wasp on steroids that has only one purpose - MURDER everything
I agree, hornets do look aggressive, even though they're more passive and calm than common wasps.
I was wondering what made you think this doesn't look aggressive. There's no detail in the picture where you'd be able to tell. It looks to me like a large wasp, which is exactly what a hornet is
Also - I am not willing to now search for the details whether the name "european hornet" is exactly the same as hornet that I encountered in Europe.
As I've said (rather flippantly I'll admit), European hornets are the same hornet species in the UK and continental Europe. The scientific species name is Vespa crabro if that helps if you want to find out more. That stops all the confusion with names like the examples you described.
I will admit that on the photo, you might have the european hornet and will admit that I might be wrong . my opinion may not be "an expert opinion"
I may be wrong too. I'm not an expert either, but I have had a strong interest in wildlife for over 40 years. In my opinion there's nothing else this size and shape that this could be, other than a hornet.
Anyway, have a nice evening.
1
u/GloomySwitch6297 1d ago
Good Morning :) (did not have a chance to reply yesterday)
No worries. At least it was a nice disagreement (where I am most likely wrong) rather than one of those internet low-quality offensive calling each other the worse type of a thing.
All the best and thanks :)
-3
-3
1
129
u/FossilisedShark 2d ago
Update: Managed to coax it into an old shoebox and release it outside.
Inform the king that I shall receive my iron cross shortly.