Is this one of those hornet wasps? It was really big, the picture doesn’t show well how big it is

22 comments
  1. Was watching some TV and suddenly this “BRRRRRR” sound turned my head. It was a huge wasp, quite scary.

    Have those things always been here?

  2. There are many of them every evening hitting the glas of our windows – very much attracted by light.

    This has never been like this. Strange.

  3. ~~Looks like a typical German yellowjacket.~~ A bit small for a European hornet?

    Edit: On second look, the brownish head and upper body, dark legs, might indicate it is a hornet.

    The invasive Asian hornets look noticeably different (darker body, yellow legs).

  4. Hornets are not dangerous at all. They only protect their hive if you are standing directly in front of it. Otherwise they do no harm. They are protected animals not to be killed.
    They might seem intimidating but actually they are very useful.

  5. I’ve been having some issues with them down in Ticino, they keep getting through the blinds on my window & unfortunately one stung my mother a few weeks ago. Nothing out of the ordinary or serious happened, just some normal pain from a sting

  6. Looks like a hornet to me. They are protected and usually not aggressive. The only time where I sadly had to kill one was when it didn‘t fly away and my cats would have endangered themselves. But I gotta admit, I am happy I do not have them in my house.

  7. Given that this is in Switzerland:
    Reddish-brown head/torso and yellow back makes this a hornet. The dot/drop markings on the back show that it is an European one.

Leave a Reply