The Sting.

[nomad]

The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is a fearsome predator of insects. Its sting is no trifle to humans either but is usually non aggressive if left in peace. In the old forest yesterday this hornet grabbed what looked to be a Bumble Bee. The prey might have been already dead from a bite from the powerful jaws but a sting was given, the coup de grace just in case. Hanging up side down, the hornet butchered its victim and the good parts that it wanted were taken back to the nest. Such is life and death in some parts of the insect World.

[exoticimports]

Great photos.

Thanks to illegal immigration we have germanica and crabo in eastern USA. Crabo though are not commonly encountered.

Chuck

[wollastoni]

Splendid pictures !

I love hornets, we now also have the Asian hornets in France, I guess they have reached the UK too.

[mygos]

Great pictures Peter

A+, Michel

[nomad]

Aug 24, 2016 12:30:03 GMT wollastoni said:

Splendid pictures !

I love hornets, we now also have the Asian hornets in France, I guess they have reached the UK too.

As of May this year there were no confirmed sightings of Asian hornets in Britain see www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/asian-hornets-arent-coming-to-the-uk-for-now-a7042511.html

but I expect they will arrive. Let's hope they do not, they can wipe out Honey Bee colonies very quickly. Another dangerous introduction and as if Honey Bees do not have enough to contend with already.

[nomad]

Thank you for the comments about the pictures. It is never easy getting pictures of live action with insects and I did my best, there was a lot of wriggling going on and it was pretty low down on the plant. The flower the Hornet is hanging upside down on is the Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) and it was about the only nectar source for insects in the forest which is taking on its weary late summer look. Thus the Hornets patrol these groups of flowers. The Ragworts were covered in Tyria jacobaeae caterpillars of the red and black moth.


Tyria jacobaeae caterpillar

[leon]

Nomad, your photography is phenomenal.

[nomad]

Thank you leon