Hornets -
Printed From: Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK
Category: General
Forum Name: Associated Fauna and Flora
Forum Description: A forum for plants, invertebrates and other animals associated with herpetofauna
URL: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=628
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 4:58pm Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hornets -
Posted By: herpetologic2
Subject: Hornets -
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2004 at 6:06am
I have noticed that these very large wasps are builidng nests under my tins in Hampshire. At least two tins have these animals constructing nests - one has finished and it has a perfectly shaped wood pulp nest - another species that has taken to reptile refugia. The nest humms when you lift the tin sadly no animals have been spotted under this tin since.
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Replies:
Posted By: j gaughan
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2004 at 11:18pm
I've had the odd Bumblebee Sp. under tin, and only once in a small nest given away by it's humming.
During a field excursion a fortnight ago, i forgot to mention this interestig post to top-man Mike Edwards, who specialises in the British Aculeates _our ants, bees & (more loosely) wasps. He's based in Hampshire, and would be glad of those records.
I remember getting stung 3 times by the same wasp after disturbing it's nest under a double-mattress, (having grabbed a handful of slow-worms) while rescueing Smooth Snakes from rubbish dumped on the edge of a Dorset heath, now built over, late 1980's.
Finding the tunnel-webs of our only mygalomorph 'Atypus affinis' _the purse-web spider, is fairly frequent on the Wealden heaths, but i was delighted this summer to find it under tin on a S-facing, chalk slope in NW Kent (along with slow-worm & viviparous lizard).
Another odd invert. i've had under tin was a female Greater Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus); this was on top of a huge compost heap of grass cuttings, during a grass snake survey, S. London, 1991.
John
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