Wow, that is seriously huge! It makes domestic wasps look a lot more friendly.

I was stung by one of these today in my house in Maryland...no idea how it got in. It wasn't as big as the one in the pic, maybe 3/4 the size (still giant), but had the same markings. My arm still stings. I came across this website on a google image search for "giant hornet". The hornet was very lethargic and I got it into a plastic container and released it in some trees near my house.

I have just found a HUGE hornet exactly like the one in this picture in my house, my hubby smacked it about 8 times and it would'nt die, it is now in a jar still alive!!! it measures 45 mm long! I'm way too scared to let it go!!!
We are in the U.K and from reading up on info about this type of hornet... none have ever been reported in this country only in France not really sure who to contact! HELP!!

The Ranger responds: If you are in the UK you have not got a specimen of Vespa mandarinia, which can't survive in our climate and is a bit more than 45mm long anyway. You have most likely got one of our native hornets which can get pretty damned big, although they are not at all hostile and a lot less trouble than normal wasps in my experience. If you're worried then take the specimen to your local council ecologist, or your local Wildlife Trust. They will know an expert who can identify it for you.

We have just had one of these huge hornets appear in out house (in the UK). It was about 50mm long. Is there likely to be a nest locally? Where are they likely to nest? Is their sting dangerous? We have three young children so I'm slightly concerned... Any advice much appreciated..

The Ranger responds: see my response to Martha above, and don't worry! Hornets are not anything like as hostile as common wasps.

Just walked the dog this morning and came upon this huge wasp/hornet - it got stuck in some long grass making such a noise. It had a bright yellow plump body, I don't recall stripes, as thick as my little finger, orangey/red furlike part before the huge yellow and blackish very wide head! It was about 2 inches long. I was silly and too scared to get close enough to take a pic with my phone camera. I get bad reactions from insect bites/stings so definitely wanted to keep away from this one. Such a shame. I live in Oxford, England.

I have for the second day in a row found a giant hornet in my living room. I did not kill either but am worried that there may be a nest near by, and have a three week old baby and two other young children. Should i be worried, are they increasing in number never come across them before? Live in the cotswolds.

The Ranger responds: see my comments above - no, you needn't worry.

We have had two huge hornets visit our home during the past month. This evening a third, HUGE(!)managed to find it's way down the chimney and landed with an audible plop on the hearth. It then proceeded to circle the lit lamp, just like a moth, and we were able to catch it in a jug and release it outside - but not before much yelling and hysteria (the husband never being around when he's needed). Once safely trapped in the transparent jug with a towel over the top, we all calmed down enough to photograph and video it. It was then taken well away from the house and released, followed by yours truly sprinting fearfully back to the open door pretty sharpish.....just in case. We live in the Chilterns.

Yesterday I found an extremely large hornet in our window. I fetched a pint glass to trap it, but there was no way of accurately surrounding the thing! It was approx. 6cm in length and 1.5cm wide. I have never seen anything like that before. We live in an extremely rural location and are used to large buzzing creatures, but this was way bigger than the norm. I had to guide it out on a fly swat. What do you think it was?

Melodie again,

Just got the ruler out and I underestimated the length of my hornet! It was actually more like 8cm in length. It was big!

The Ranger responds: wow, that's a big insect! It's very hard to say what it could have been but if you can get a photo of it, just let me know. I'd be very interested.

I have just seen a massive hornet in my garden. It was hovering just above an ants nest. It only stayed around for a few seconds before flying off. I have seen ordinary hornets fairly commonly in and around our house, but nothing like this. It was not the European Hornet ! I would estimate it to be about 60mm in length. It's bright yellow head and huge abdomen were the most striking features. We are in a very rural fruit growing area in Warwickshire.

The Ranger responds: photos, Dave, photos! An intriguing story, but without a pic, we can only wonder...

I've got some photos ! My neighbour had one in his house today. I have lots of photos. Dave.

As the Ranger has already said, the Asian giant hornet is a sub-tropical species and is unlikely to survive in a Mediterranean climate, let alone ours.

One possible contender for these large Hymenopterans described could be the Horntail (Uroceras gigas) which looks fearsome, but is actually stingless and often emerges from pine timbers where its larvae develop, hence it is frequently seen on new housing estates with pine roof beams.

Another contender could be Scolia flavifrons, though unlikely as this is a Mediterranean species, but not impossible with global warming, etc. Again it's harmless and a parasite of scarab beetles, but it is about 40-50mm long.

I work in conservation and have noticed a marked increase in Hornet numbers in the last few years, but they've never given me any trouble - they just circle your head once to check you out, then get on with their business.

My cousin - Dave Negus - has recently moved to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (UK) - from London. He has found a large, unusual beetle - amongst new oak "railway sleepers" from France. He has contacted the British Museum (Natural History) who have informed that this species has meant to be extinct for years! I have photos (with penny for scale)if you are interested?

The Ranger responds: yes please! And with the NHM's response, ideally, please.

I think I have some kind of a wasp in my yard. I live in New England. It is about 2 to 2 1\2 inches in length and about 1\2 inch in diameter for its width. I have seen three of them. My husband killed the first two. They all looked similar. They are dark brown with 2 or 3 bright yellow stripes at the top of the third section of their body. I think they are living in the ground because the last one I saw kept disappearing near the ground. It seems to be a bit aggressive. When I walked near it and where it was disappearing, it chased me a bit. My husband thinks the first one stung him but he did not get a good look at it because it got caught under his glasses and stung him in the eye. What ever stung him did not die after stinging him. Please, let me know what kind of wasp, bee, or hornet you think I am dealing with.
Thank you,
Andrea

The Ranger responds: I'm sorry Andrea, I live and work in Olde England, so I'm afraid I don't know much about American wasps. However, here's a page about a species which looks like you describe - Cicada Killer Wasps (Sphecius speciosus). If that's the one, it's nothing to fear.

I am in the West of Ireland. One of our warehouse staff spend a good part of yesterday chasing a large hornet-like beast - the scary thing was its stinger which was AT LEAST 1" long. It survived many belts to the noggin with a length of 2" x4" timber!!!! Unfortunately my camera batteries were flat so I didn't get a photo but it was the most frightening insect I ever laid my eyes on. I guessed it was an asian hornet - but this damn thing was way bigger and with a way larger sting. If any one has any idea what it may be I'd love to know.

The Ranger responds: I dunno but I sure hope I don't meet one! No, seriously, if it had a really long 'stinger' it probably wasn't a real wasp but some kind of ichneumon fly and thus harmless. No vespid wasp has a 1" long sting, but in ichneumons and some related creatures the female's ovipositor looks pretty much like a sting, and can cause some alarm! Either way, no need to panic.

Hello Ranger

My house is built on historical farm land and every now and then i come across some odd looking insects but today i got a real shock when i walked up to my front door and seen what definetly looked like the above picture, except this insect was about 1/3 broader and 1/5 longer,it also has the same characteristics as the one in the picture much like a large beetle with wings. i mentiond this to my partner and his first thought was its a hornet, we checked and found your picture. I have read the other comments and your replies, and unless hornets in scotland are taking steroids then i am 100% sure that what i saw was the asian giant hornet i read that they have been found in france, is this true?

Thanking you in advance

Gillian

The Ranger responds: as you've no doubt read in my article above:

Unless you live in temperate or tropical Eastern Asia the answer is "definitely not!". The giant hornet cannot survive in Europe or North America and is unknown there.

You might have heard of the Asian hornet in France, Vespa velutina, which is a different species entirely and less harmful to humans. Believe me, you have not got Vespa mandarinia living wild in Scotland. There are quite a few big yellow and black insects that are far more likely than this one.

Well thanks to this blog I managed to find out that I caught to European hornets in my wasp catcher.

Hello Ranger. Thanks to this website I managed to find out that I had caught 2 European wasps in my wasp catcher.

HI ranger,

I AM PETRIFIED of HORNETS not much use am I. I live in the counrty in Suffolk and yes get loads of the bloomin things each summer, I was worried last night as I normally have one or two buzzing around the outside light at night, like a moth, however, last night there was 14. I was so scared but after reading your sight at least i am not alone ! silly really i dont mind bee's or wasps at all its just because they are so big. I live in a semi cottage and this afternoon was in the garden and watching them go up to my neighbours chimney, nest maybe, dont know but does the cold weather kill them off, typical hubby away on a course with the RAF for the next two weeks just as they all decide they like my outside light.
Caz

What an fascinating website, we've had a lot of large hornets down here in the South of France this summer, but nothing like that one, thank goodness !!

I live in rural wooded area in South Korea and once had a honey bee colony living inside the bricks of my apartment wall. I could see evidence of the bee colony since the insects enter their hidden nest directly outside my bedroom window. They sometimes made their way into the apartment but I am not certain how. Anyway, this summer the nest changed to a "Warnet" nest. That's what I called them when I was confused if it was a wasp or a hornet. Upon research, these guys are definitely the Asian Giant Hornets. In and out of the bricks of our apartment fly these HUGE (about 2 inches and, believe it or not, sometimes more) striped tail insects with red legs, large wings, and reddish heads. Bad stuff. So now what? Does the colony die off and leave next summer? It's already almost October so should be pay for them to be exterminated or what? BTW, we've found 3 this summer in our house.

The Ranger responds: sounds like you might get the prize for the first commenter on this post who thinks they have Vespa mandarinia and actually does! I understand there are a few other similar-looking species in Korea so I can't be entirely sure, but chances are you've got the hornet. I'm no expert about wildlife outside England but you do need to be careful of these creatures. They have a very painful sting - however like all hornets (but not wasps) they are most unlikely to attack a human unless they are endangered, so if you leave them alone they will probably leave you alone too.

Very informative information! I've had a small swarm of 30 to 50 Vespa crabro hornets keeping very close to a 10 m tall maple tree over the past three days. I'm in Maryland, USA. The tree is unfortunately very close to our mailbox. It seems like the hornets are staying very close to certain points on the tree, which I can't see any reason for them to do. Is this a new queen split? They used to chew our lilac bushes for material, but I sprayed the bushes and they left them alone this year. Should I try to persuade this group to move?

I was sat in the garden, today and something flew by and settled on the wall it was about 2 inches long,and the same markings as the asian hornet,orange and brown,and the wings where brown the body as thick as my little finger.
I know what the european hornet looks like,and it wasnt one of them,and it was twice the size of
of the ones we used to get in the middle east.
Also it was total different to anything I saw in Belize.

The Ranger responds: assuming you're in England it could be a sawfly - there are a lot of them, and although they are not often seen as adults they can get pretty big.

Hello Ranger,

I am located in Japan now and saw my fist Giant hornet this very day in the Sanda area. My hobby is jewelry design and I am working with insects for designs at present. I want to catch a giant hornet for a jewelry project, but without massive pain and the possibility of death. I have read just enough that I want to ask someone in the know before attempting to catch something that can chemically tell it's cohorts to attack me! I was thinking about using a standard design wasp trap with a lobster trap style one way door. I am cautious for my safety and others as the location I saw 2 hornets is on a walking path. If I catch one in the trap is, while I watch from a distance or leave it overnight, is there a danger a trapped hornet would pose a hazard via pheromone release calling for reinforcements?
I want to catch one or more but want to keep myself, and other safe while I do so. I would appreciate any advice as to how I may accomplish this.

Thanks,
Tim B. Green

The Ranger responds: Whilst in general, if left alone, they are not aggressive, I wouldn't go near a trapped one with a bargepole - nor am I likely ever to get the chance I guess! But good luck, send us some pics if you are successful... and live!

Just chased a very large hornet (40mm plus)out of the living room. Distictive yellow head so it does not look like the pictures of the European Hornet. What is it? I live in the UK. I have a picture.

what do u mean the Asian Giant Hornet cannot survive in Europe or North America, OF COURSE IT CAN: the Asian Giant Hornet is actually the same European Wasp/Hornet, only BIGGER but of the same species. when you have wasps like these doing the things of both a wasp & bee, they r known as social wasps. da correct name 4 these species of wasps & hornets are called: YELLOWJACKET!

The Ranger responds: Thank you, George W.

My wife and I are startingup a scientific study of Dragonfles and Damsel flies and bees in the Purbeck and Wareham areas.........If you are going to do anything like this yourselfs be warned that you WILL be approached by folks with these Hornets in jars, Humming Bird Hawk Moths that look like " A Humming Bird mate!! Wotcher fink of dat then eh? Gorit in ma gardin ah did!!"...........

Cheers John T Smith

Just had a 'thing' in my study that was at least 2 inches long, blimin huge fella! Got some pictures too. It looked like a massive hornet, fat and long and yellow and brown, although it was more like a orangy brown. We live in a village in the deep countryside near Chelmsford in Essex so are used to seeing wasps, bees, hornets etc and don't think twice about them, but this was massive!

i spent ages today watching a huge hornet building a nest in a dry stone wall in my garden... way bigger than normal hornet size ( and ive seen a few) i now know after a bit of research that this must be a queen as they emerge in may + start the nest building process on their own - while the first workers are developing. it sounded like a helicopter! also apparently they are very gentle/ non aggressive. they look scary as hell to me.

hello , i live in essex , england close to london , well about 30 mile away , today i was replacing an old lock on my garden shed when i had the shock of my life , i was happily changing the lock when i heard a strange sound , i thought it was a helicopter as we live close to an airport , i looked around to see where the sound was coming from then WOW .. i seen it , it was a huge hornit about 4 - 5 inches in length , now the reason i am writing this is i contacted people i know and no one has a clue who i report it to , we have a small child aged 2 and i do not want her being stung by this monster , i have researched it and the best match i can come up with is Vespa Mandarinia ( giant asian hornet ) but aparently this species cannot survive here but i am positive it was one , i wasnt hanging around to try and catch it it scared the life out of me and usually im not too botherd about wasps or any other kind of insect , could you please give me some advice on what to do about this hornet, thankyou.

The Ranger responds: it is NOT Vespa mandarinia, you're right there. It's probably a normal native British hornet, they get pretty big at times (read the other comments to find out more). they are rare so you may not have seen one before. But they're less fierce even than normal wasps so you don't need to do anything about it - it'll probably just fly away.

Wicked site..some good information here...the wasp's and hornets here in England are increasing in size and each year i see an even bigger one...i hate wasps and would prob jump off a cliff trying to avoid one lol..so anyway is there a reason for them to be getting bigger?