Wheres Toto Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 We have had a large bee or wasp appear in our house twice in the past week or so. It was unlike anything we had ever seen before. It had a brown face with black eyes; black/dark brown abdomen; biege thorax with black stripes; slightly fuzzy and HUGE! DH caught the second one in a jar and we were able to measure it - it was slightly under 2 inches long. DH thinks it only has one set of white, membranous (sp?), veiny wings but its hard to tell for sure if there's one set or two. The first time I saw one it was first thing in the morning and it was buzzing around the skylight trying to get out. Last night it didn't become active until we had turned out most of the lights and it seemed attracted by the light from the television. Any ideas? This is totally creeping me out. I checked a bunch of identification websites and didn't see anything like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emubird Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 If it really only has one set of wings, it's a fly, not a wasp -- but it's often difficult to see the second set. They can be tiny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Take the one you caught to the County Extension office and see what they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galtgrl Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Maybe a paper wasp? We have them here, but I'm not sure they're as big as you're describing unless it's a queen. If it is, they're not very agressive but they like to live in the walls of the house... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Is it a carpenter bee? They are busy right now, finding places to nest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share Posted May 13, 2010 I thought about it being a queen but it seems unlikely we'd see two of them in one week. DH just bought it back home (he had taken it to work to check with one of his employees). In looking at it again - the abdomen is furry but the thorax is not, which from what I've been seeing online indicates a wasp rather than a bee (bees have the furry appearance due to little hairs that collect pollen). Okay, a little more searching on the paper wask idea and I think I know what it is - a European Hornet. Related to the paper wasp but larger, considered an invasive species that has been introduced in this country. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I was going to guess hornet. We had a HUGE nest of hornets on our telephone pole of all places last year. My ds was playing basketball on the driveway and almost knocked it over! So, dh got some spray, saturated the nest as per instructions and poof! Gone. Hate to use chemicals, but those hornets are aggressive and nasty creatures. They sting repeatedly and are not afraid of you! Hope you find the nest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 http://greennature.com/gallery/wasp-pictures/trichiosoma.html Could this be it? Cimbicid Sawflies. http://bugguide.net/node/view/59 This site may help you identify it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share Posted May 13, 2010 This is it: http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2010/04/26/queen-european-hornet/ Ugh, gives me the creeps just looking at it. We definitely need to check for a nest. If we're lucky, it was a queen and the nest hasn't been started yet. On the bright side, they usually aren't aggressive unless protecting the nest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Goldwater Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 If you've IDed correctly, be careful (bee careful? sorry couldn't resist!). European hornets, after they build their nests can be EXTREMELY aggressive in late summer/early fall. If you see any more, I recommend a professional to find and remove/eliminate the nest. Also look around the outside of your house under eaves/awnings for a nest...If you have an older house they could nest between the exterior/interior wall spaces. Don't mean to alarm...I'm suggesting reasoned caution, not panic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted June 10, 2010 Author Share Posted June 10, 2010 We saw one more about a week after the original message (already dead) and nothing since. There is no sign of a nest anywhere outside the house or in the walls - no more seen anywhere. We are going to be tearing down this house in about 6-7 months. Until then we will have a lot of construction going on so I hope that will stir them up if they are out there and we can eliminate them. Hopefully they are gone already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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