On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 07:30:53 +0000 (UTC), Essjay001
wrote:

Malcolm wrote:

Hornets have black and yellow striped bodies, not "tan". They're just
like wasps on steroids, but without the aggression!

No not a Hornet


What I'm not clear about is whether Essjay has looked at the picture
of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, because what he is describing fits that
fairly well.
Yes I did but it's not that either, but I am inclined to think it might
be a
moth of some kind

That does seem the most likely. There are loads of moths of all shapes and
sizes, day and night flyers. A lot of which are tan or dun coloured. Tim.

"Essjay001" wrote in message
...
Tim wrote:

Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or
partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All
things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I
know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the
antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or
ants do?

Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs and
things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked big
enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it probably
wasn't a stinger.

Essjay, have you seen a cockchafer beetle in flight and landing?, we had one
land on the pea netting one evening about a week ago, it was enormous! I put
it in a jar ready to take a pic and ask here, but found it in one of my
books, I'd seen it in the book but had no idea it was so big. The reason I
mention it is because initially I thought it was a hornet.

Shan

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 21:28:51 +0100, shannie wrote:






"Essjay001" wrote in message
...
Tim wrote:

Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or
partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All
things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I
know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the
antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or
ants do?

Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs
and
things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked
big
enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it
probably
wasn't a stinger.

Essjay, have you seen a cockchafer beetle in flight and landing?, we had
one
land on the pea netting one evening about a week ago, it was enormous! I
put
it in a jar ready to take a pic and ask here, but found it in one of my
books, I'd seen it in the book but had no idea it was so big. The reason
I
mention it is because initially I thought it was a hornet.

Shan


They're such stupid and useless flyers you can catch them in mid-air with
your bare hands.
Nice beetles though. They buzz like hornets too. Hornets don't crash into a
house because they didn't notice it though.
Tim.

I checked the BBC Wildlife mag this morning and it definately was the
Macroglossum stellatarum.
Haven't seen it since.
Geoff
Are you sure it was a hummingbird hawk moth? They are usually day fliers
AFAIK. There are lots of other hawkmoths that are night fliers. There is an
excellent guide to hawmoths of the UK in this months BBC Wildlife mag.
Anita

Malcolm wrote:

Depending a little where he lives, watching a hummingbird hawk moth
outside after watching Gardener's World, i.e. just after 9.00 p.m., does
not necessarily mean that it was night-time. It was after all on the
longest day of the year!

--
Malcolm


True! I just read the "went out last night" bit and thought he DID mean
night! I have no idea what time GW is on, I don't have a telly. But I
suppose I should have worked it out is wasn't likely to be a late show!
Anita

Yes it was still light.
From the photos I could find on the internet it looked like it was.
I will check the magazine just to make sure.
It was just such an unusual sight to see that brain just would not
function, not that it does at the best of times.
All I can remember now is the mottled rump it had.
No chance of seeing what the wings where like at all, except they
looked hummingbird like if that's any good :-)
It remains daylight until after 9pm here in Norfolk.
GeoffH


On Mon, 23 Jun 2003 11:32:59 +0100, "A.Malhotra"
wrote:


Are you sure it was a hummingbird hawk moth? They are usually day fliers
AFAIK. There are lots of other hawkmoths that are night fliers. There is an
excellent guide to hawmoths of the UK in this months BBC Wildlife mag.
Anita

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Malcolm wrote:

Hornets have black and yellow striped bodies, not "tan". They're just
like wasps on steroids, but without the aggression!

No not a Hornet


What I'm not clear about is whether Essjay has looked at the picture
of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, because what he is describing fits that
fairly well.
Yes I did but it's not that either, but I am inclined to think it might be a
moth of some kind

Tim wrote:

Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or
partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All
things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I
know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the
antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or
ants do?

Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs and
things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked big
enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it probably
wasn't a stinger.





A hornet?

There are some short stumpy-bodied dragonflies (can't think of any
names at the moment).

Hornets have black and yellow striped bodies, not "tan". They're just
like wasps on steroids, but without the aggression!

Hornets (Vespa crabro) have orange/brown eyes and hairs
[http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/hornets.htm], whereas the
common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) have black hair and eyes.

[http://www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder....lgaris/vespula
_vulgaris.htm]

If you see a black and yellow thing that's as big as a hornet it's
probably a queen wasp.

What I'm not clear about is whether Essjay has looked at the picture
of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, because what he is describing fits that
fairly well.

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 07:30:53 +0000 (UTC), Essjay001
wrote:

Malcolm wrote:

Hornets have black and yellow striped bodies, not "tan". They're just
like wasps on steroids, but without the aggression!

No not a Hornet


What I'm not clear about is whether Essjay has looked at the picture
of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, because what he is describing fits that
fairly well.
Yes I did but it's not that either, but I am inclined to think it might
be a
moth of some kind

That does seem the most likely. There are loads of moths of all shapes and
sizes, day and night flyers. A lot of which are tan or dun coloured. Tim.

"Essjay001" wrote in message
...
Tim wrote:

Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or
partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All
things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I
know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the
antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or
ants do?

Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs and
things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked big
enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it probably
wasn't a stinger.

Essjay, have you seen a cockchafer beetle in flight and landing?, we had one
land on the pea netting one evening about a week ago, it was enormous! I put
it in a jar ready to take a pic and ask here, but found it in one of my
books, I'd seen it in the book but had no idea it was so big. The reason I
mention it is because initially I thought it was a hornet.

Shan

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 21:28:51 +0100, shannie wrote:






"Essjay001" wrote in message
...
Tim wrote:

Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or
partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All
things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I
know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the
antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or
ants do?

Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs
and
things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked
big
enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it
probably
wasn't a stinger.

Essjay, have you seen a cockchafer beetle in flight and landing?, we had
one
land on the pea netting one evening about a week ago, it was enormous! I
put
it in a jar ready to take a pic and ask here, but found it in one of my
books, I'd seen it in the book but had no idea it was so big. The reason
I
mention it is because initially I thought it was a hornet.

Shan


They're such stupid and useless flyers you can catch them in mid-air with
your bare hands.
Nice beetles though. They buzz like hornets too. Hornets don't crash into a
house because they didn't notice it though.
Tim.

I checked the BBC Wildlife mag this morning and it definately was the
Macroglossum stellatarum.
Haven't seen it since.
Geoff
Are you sure it was a hummingbird hawk moth? They are usually day fliers
AFAIK. There are lots of other hawkmoths that are night fliers. There is an
excellent guide to hawmoths of the UK in this months BBC Wildlife mag.
Anita