Huge wasp or hornet attacking my window in the dark

Huge wasp or hornet attacking my window in the dark

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river_rat

Original Poster:

683 posts

202 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
Over the course of the last week or so I appear to have been stalked by a huge wasp or hornet outside my bedroom window.

This thing flies at and hits the window making a loud bump and the buzzing is very loud, which is then repeated a few times - much louder than a 'normal' wasp, but this always happens when it is dark outside, 10pm, 3.15am, 4.15am and when inside room is dark. The only light is a downstairs light by front door (but not directly below my window). It is loud enough to wake me up every time.

I saw it just sitting on the outside window frame the other morning (in the dark) and it was huge.

Why is this thing attacking my window?! I'm keeping the window almost completely closed at the moment in case it gets in!

syko89

366 posts

157 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
Wood wasp?

Saw one for the first time yesterday. I wouldn't want to be stung by one!

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
You're doomed...

HTH.

river_rat

Original Poster:

683 posts

202 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
A quick Google search confirms that hornets are active at night, so it would appear to be a hornet based on my very limited research.....

Don't want one of them getting in my room!

Otispunkmeyer

12,558 posts

154 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
I went on a google spree on Hornets and ended up at the Japanese Giant Hornet


[quote=some website]
The Japanese Giant hornet usually grows to about 1½ inches and has a two inch wing span and a ¼ inch sting. And speaking of stings, this one is bad.
Not only will the hornet inject neurological venom into you, but it will also release an alarm pheromone, which alerts nearby hornets too.
Around 30-40 people are killed in Japan each year by these insects, despite them having no interest in eating human flesh.
However, they can kill up to forty bees a minute, spray acid into your eyes and fly for up to fifty miles a day. The lesson to take from all this? Don’t upset a Japanese Giant hornet!
[\quote]

That's Japan scrubbed off the list. Jesus Christ! I panic when there is a wasp about..... I think would really rather be dead than meet one of these.

55palfers

5,893 posts

163 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
Bloody foreign wasps coming over here.....

Big Al.

68,799 posts

257 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
A few years back we hired a villa in France.

Hornets bloody loads of them trying to reach the light through the kitchen window glass doors at night, every night.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
55palfers said:
Bloody foreign wasps coming over here.....
Stinging all our arses....

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
Let it in and catch it.



Mind you, his chums might get leery.



Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

243 months

Monday 14th August 2017
quotequote all
syko89 said:
Wood wasp?

Saw one for the first time yesterday. I wouldn't want to be stung by one!
Unless you're a tree you would be in precisely no danger; it's not a sting, it's an ovipositor.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
Einion Yrth said:
it's not a sting, it's an ovipositor.
I thought you stuck those up your bum....

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

243 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said:
Einion Yrth said:
it's not a sting, it's an ovipositor.
I thought you stuck those up your bum....
Feel free, if tat would make you appy.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
Einion Yrth said:
mybrainhurts said:
Einion Yrth said:
it's not a sting, it's an ovipositor.
I thought you stuck those up your bum....
Feel free, if tat would make you appy.
I suddenly changed my mind. I'm coming round to stick them up YOUR bum....irked

NDA

21,494 posts

224 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
I have a bit of woodland.... and.... hornets.

Being stung by a hornet is like someone pushing a red hot nail into you - potentially extremely dangerous for some people.

Hornets also have a bit of a memory - if you agitate one, they will come after you. They're not like wasps in this regard.

But fortunately, they are, by and large, extremely passive. Keep still, they'll have a nose and bugger off - threaten them (flapping about, try to catch one etc) and it'll end badly.

I was buzzed by a couple today - it certainly gets the nerves jangling as they're big things.

Just thought I'd pass on my experience. smile Leave well alone.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
Very satisfying if you connect with a cricket bat whilst in flight....

NDA

21,494 posts

224 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said:
Very satisfying if you connect with a cricket bat....
Nutter. biggrin

I wouldn't dream of going after a hornet. It's like messing with travellers.

river_rat

Original Poster:

683 posts

202 months

Monday 21st August 2017
quotequote all
Well I've been away for a few days, back last night to rainy England which I thought would keep the hornet at home in the dry.....but no, it was buzzing round my window and bashing into it from about 3am to 5am on and off.

As soon as it is light there is no sign of it.

I'm thinking of getting some insect spray and waiting for it to land and then quickly open a bigger window and spray it before hastily retreating, although the previous post about them having a good memory is a bit of a worry if I don't manage a direct hit with the spray eek

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Monday 21st August 2017
quotequote all
Used some stuff call Kybosh many moons ago when a queen wasp was in and out of an air brick in our old house. Cover the brick in the stuff (not literally filled the holes in, just sprayed on) and think we got a shot of the invader one day but that was the end of the queen as we never heard from her again.

Scary bit was she got up the cavity and came out under the bath. Buzzing and banging around hence the chemical warfare.

I leave them alone otherwise.

http://www.bayergarden.co.uk/Products/k/Kybosh-Ins...

p1stonhead

25,489 posts

166 months

Monday 21st August 2017
quotequote all
river_rat said:
Well I've been away for a few days, back last night to rainy England which I thought would keep the hornet at home in the dry.....but no, it was buzzing round my window and bashing into it from about 3am to 5am on and off.

As soon as it is light there is no sign of it.
hehe this is definitely a nightmare of mine.

Boosted LS1

21,167 posts

259 months

Monday 21st August 2017
quotequote all
OP, do you think it's being attracted by a light source or reflected light? If so could you remove the light?