Is this V. Velutina in S France?

[Sutty]

There were loads of these busy on the ivy flowers on an island off the south french coast.
I think they are velutina. Am I right?
Lots of hoverflies too, but I haven't seen a single bee!

 

[RJC]

There were loads of these busy on the ivy flowers on an island off the south french coast.
I think they are velutina. Am I right?
Lots of hoverflies too, but I haven't seen a single bee!

yes, it is

 

[Sutty]

yes, it is

Thanks, good to know for pattern recognition. I've seen a lot of them

 

[jeff33]

There were loads of these busy on the ivy flowers on an island off the south french coast.
I think they are velutina. Am I right?
Lots of hoverflies too, but I haven't seen a single bee!

Yes, my parents garden is full of them! I have made them some trap to put out in the spring when the females become active again.

 

[Amari]

There were loads of these busy on the ivy flowers on an island off the south french coast.
I think they are velutina. Am I right?
Lots of hoverflies too, but I haven't seen a single bee!

I hope none of them decided to hide in your luggage.......

 

[Sutty]

I hope none of them decided to hide in your luggage.......

I was tempted to kill one to take back for reference, but pretty sure I'll recognise it when I see one next - big buggers!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I was tempted to kill one to take back for reference, but pretty sure I'll recognise it when I see one next - big buggers!!

A few years back Richard Noel sent me an envelope full to look at. I gave a few to a friend from Bees Wasps and Ants to pin out.
Thorne sell one embalmed in plastic

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

A few years back Richard Noel sent me an envelope full to look at.

and me, I put them all in a jar of alcohol - some went on to the the local SBIs and our RBI (who sent one to the NBU)
In fact, only the other day I found the last few floating in a jar tucked away in the shed

 

[Amari]

I was tempted to kill one to take back for reference, but pretty sure I'll recognise it when I see one next - big buggers!!

Not as big as our native Vespa crabro

 

[ldwgs]

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