"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
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

Wait until you get a queen wasp or queen hornet hiding in your woodpile and
get stung bringing in a log in for the fire. I'd forgotten how much it
hurt. It was nearly intolerable for an hour or two. I was tempted to kill
her, but I didn't. I put vinegar on the sting, didn't help a lot and for
that first hour or two I wished her to hell,tbh. It was agony.