Large wasp/hornet (?) with tiny little or no waist

[sophie]

We have a lot of these around at the moment (for at least a month) and despite Googling I have found dozens of pictures of both of the above but I'm still not sure what we have. Certainly I can't find a nest anywhere. They even looked like a fly in one picture, but it appears to have a large black "tail" or it might be a stinger. Anyone else having the same problem?

[Navek]

Hi sophie,
Is it one of these?...

More...
http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/PG/Saunders/BWA.htm

[carrierbag]

Could be "potter bees"....they find places in your home to build their "pottery nests". They are harmless other than the nests which are a pain.

[sophie]

navek, looks very like the one at the bottom. Carrierbag,, just after posting the original query, I saw a brown "stain" on the side of the chimney. Got a long brush and down fell a reddish/brown pottery lump of clay with a dead "thing" inside. Only one though. Should I be looking for individual nests or was this just a one off do you think?. Are they a type of wasp or fly if they are harmless. Have young children visiting!!!

[Navek]

The Red-Banded Sand Wasp - Ammophila Sabulosa...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammophila_sabulosa

Female

"When disturbed or threatened, these wasps will sting humans."
Like most stinging insects!

We've had them nesting once in our house, they just fly about,
then leave via open door/window.

I wouldn't class them as a threat to anyone.

[sophie]

'ahh now, the picture you have enlarged does not have a long (sting or tail) at the end which seems to be disproportionate to it actually length. That's what made me think it might use it for laying eggs in tree bark or similar and actually be a sort of fly. BTW I've never heard a buzz and it seems a bit sleepy, rather than charging about. Ain't nature wonderful???? If we didn't have family here, I would probably spend hours researching.

[tingtang]

Sophie, if these bees/hornets are what you now think they are then I would caution you against poking around in the chimney. These creatures do have an alarm' signal which marshall's them into a mass attack when they feel under threat. Unseasonal as it may be I would light a fire which should clear them out.

You do not say whether you have been seeing these creatures indoors or outdoors. From your description of 'tiny waist'. the species I am thinking of is the Oriental Hornet which is native to Cyprus, about 2 inches long with the tiny waist but the waist is not elongated as in Navek's post but very short and the sting tail is of equal length to the body. Those creatures do not live indoors, when they enter the house, like bluebottles they soon find their way out.

You can also read more on wasps, hornets generally if you Google
Hornet - Wikpedia.

Here's hoping your fears are unfounded.

tt.

[sophie]

Am learning masses of stuff. TT, the "nest thingy" was on outside of chimney - we can't get into chimney, its just for show!! It's less that 2ins long but about 1.5ins including the long black tail doobry. Because all windows and doors open they just keep wandering about. I think the best thing to do is just learn to live with them and not try and catch one either. They never settle on anything in case so that would be difficult. BTW, they seem to be more in evidence when the JBC goes into action across the road and is digging out junks of the ravine. YUK!!!

[Groucho]

We've had potter wasps making nests in a variety of places over the years... they are not colony breeders but individual nest builders that make fascinating structures from clay and saliva...
You will see them come and go during construction . They paralyze a large grub/caterpillar and store it inside the nest for their own larva to feed on. Once the egg has been laid they move on as the offspring has all it needs - a meal that it eats alive.....

[Jonnie]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_dauber

Perhaps

[sophie]

Navek, your picture is spot on other than ours have black and yellow banded legs. Perhaps ours are mostly males whereas your picture is the female? We're just letting them fly gracefully around but wish we could see where they are definitely coming from. They haven't been a nuisance as such, just hope one of the dogs doesn't decide to annoy one!!! Thanks for your help, fascinating.

[Groucho]

If you post a photo of the nest it would be good to see it.

[sophie]

Will do, if we ever find out where they are going to and coming from.

[carrierbag]

I have never found where ours come from but they have nested behind pictures, on a suitcase on top of a wardrobe, in an opening made to accommodate wiring, in an air conditioning unit and the best one.....in the broken lock hole of an ottoman. I have never known one to sting, even when disturbed. I see several a day in our house and watch to see where they go and then I will try and move them on. As I said in my earlier post, more a pain in the rear than a threat to anyone.

[Groucho]

Potter wasp...

[sophie]

That pics absolutely correct Groucho. Blimey its going to take a week and a half to check behind all the pictures and all the stuff stuck on top of wardrobes, ceiling fans, outside lights etc., etc., the list goes on!!!

[Jonnie]

Is that not a mud dauber?

[sophie]

Johnnie, maybe they are one and the same, I have 4 of them wandering about as I type. They never land on anything that I can spot, never make a sound and seem a bit dozy.