On 05/09/15 19:47, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Sat, 5 Sep 2015 19:24:28 +0100, Jeff Layman
wrote:

Wasps have been a real pest this year, ruining the plums, then starting
on the grapes, and now having a go at the apples. I thought I'd get some
of the apples stored before the wasps damaged them all, but I didn't
expect to come across this bad boy!
http://tinypic.com/r/2gx4veu/8

From your comment, and the possible orange tinge under the wing, I
assume a hornet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hornet
Probably not as aggressive as painted, but still best not meddled
with.

Yes - probably a queen hornet (maybe "bad boy" was not the right term!).
It came back several times to the same apple, although there were many
others on and off the tree partially eaten by wasps. It was easily
disturbed by the camera, flying off, and to be honest didn't seem as
much of a nuisance as ordinary wasps.

--

Jeff