What is this flying thing?

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Jasmine star, Jul 27, 2022.

  1. Jasmine star

    Jasmine star Super Gardener

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    Hi all,
    This has just flew into the kitchen.
    At first I thought it may be a cricket but it looks a little more sinister :yikes:
    Sorry the picture isn't clearer.
    20220727_181227.jpg

    20220727_181230.jpg
     
  2. Clueless 1 v2

    Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

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  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I think its a wood wasp, harmless.
    We used to get some of these in the workshop where I worked.
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Looking again I'd say wasp but not what I first thought.
      Doubt its dangerous.:biggrin:
       
    • Jasmine star

      Jasmine star Super Gardener

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    • Clueless 1 v2

      Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

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      2 inches? I'd be running for the hills.

      My first thought was a flying ant or some sort of wasp, but 2 inches is huge.

      As an aside, bees and wasps are descended from ancient ants. I guess some of their early descendents chose a life of virtue, while some chose to be thugs. The former evolved into bees and the latter wasps.
       
    • Jasmine star

      Jasmine star Super Gardener

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      @Clueless 1 v2 I did panic a little.
      That's why I thought it was a cricket :heehee:
      I've had a look on the Internet and parasitic wasp seems close :dunno:
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        Yeah I remember now, they poke that long tail thing into you and lay eggs, the eggs develop inside you and eventually eat you from the inside out, until hundreds of these wasps finally fly off leaving just the shell of the body behind.:biggrin:

        But mostly harmless, if you dont get too close that is.:biggrin:
         
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        • Nikolaos

          Nikolaos Total Gardener

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          Not sinister at all, simply an Ichneumon wasp with a short ovipositor. :) Personally I find them beautiful and fascinating, Jasmine!

          Hard to tell from your photos, but probably Pimpla rufipes? I think I've also seen a similar one with striped black and yellow legs, but it's far less common locally.

          Pimpla rufipes | NatureSpot

          Nick
           
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          • fastgrower

            fastgrower Apprentice Gardener

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            most things in the uk are not dangerous, i would not worry about it
             
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            • Jasmine star

              Jasmine star Super Gardener

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              @Nikolaos it was definitely a fine specimen and I watched it for a while having never seen one before. Eventually flying back out of the window I did wonder if it might have been some kind of hornet or something relating to the local farm or stables.
              Every day is a learning day :biggrin:
               
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