are Wasps bigger this year?

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Here's a photo (hopefully) of the largest European wasp (Megascolia maculata). This deceased one was found in our pool after a very windy day last summer. Females have the yellow heads and are up to 6cm in length. Fortunately - they are not found in the UK because they hunt the Rhinoceros Beetle (also not found in the UK).

Well thank goodness for small mercies is all I can say, Grandmafrench.

I’ve not seen any wasps but lots of large noisy bees. Beautiful but last time I got stung by a bee I developed cellulitis and was one step away from hospitalisation in Florida. I’m now terrified of bees.

I have had 3 woppers in the house the last few, they are all a bit dopey and easy to get rid of though.

I reckon our tally is now up to 12, including a very dozy one this morning in our bedroom. I suspect the sudden drop in temperature was affecting it.

Definitely exceptional wasps because we had two normal size wasps in the kitchen as well.

I have just done a google search, looked at all the details about the Asian Hornet, which is a species you have to report if you find one. Here is a link www.gov.uk/government/news/asian-hornet-uk-sightings-in-2018 then I found a picture of a Queen wasp on this site www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/02/how-big-is-a-queen-wasp/. The site says a queen wasp can be up to 2.5 centimetres long compare with a worker wasp which is only about 1.7cmentimetres, max.

Having picked up a (very) dead one, measured and compared it. I am relieved to note that our insects are definitely queen wasps. I wonder if the warm winter enabled them to grow extra large?

I like wasps...and bees. I pick them up and put outside.

Don't know, will have to wait and see when/if the rugby season starts again. But then perhaps they have been eating all the pies and not training enough (hopefully!).

What - with your fingers * Gabriella*?

I use a spider catcher, like a little clear box with a sliding 'door' on the end of a pole. Open it, put it over the bee then encourage it into the chamber, slide the 'door' shut gently then release outside.

Yesterday we had the biggest bee ever in our garage. The buzz was also the loudest I can recall.
Also a very big wasp in the bedroom. I opened the window to shoo it out. No way was I going to get close to yon boy.

If they are outside they are welcome to live as they would, but having had wasps nesting in the roof on quite a number of times, with all the inconvenience of not being able to get into the loft and having them infest the house, any that come in are taking their lives into their hands.

Gabriella, if you want to take 2.5 cm long wasps into your hand to throw outside, well, better you than me. I would imagine that a big wasp packs a big sting, and having once been mobbed and multi-stung by wasps, I avoid any risks of being stung again.

Wasps at present are mostly queens, each one you squish will prevent a wasps nest with hundreds of worker wasps, it’s your choice!.
I’ve dispatched about 10 so far.

Even wasps have their uses and their place in nature David
Although not in the house!

They are pollinators and eat other undesirable creatures that may harm your crops.
Every one you despatch means there are hundreds fewer in the important ecological chain which could upset the balance further along.

You can have all my wasps with pleasure Calli, for most people they rate with Rats and Mice and you get rid