Queen EU Hornet or Queen Wasp

[Swift Nick]

I was checking my bait hives today & found a queen wasp or queen European hornet on the lid of the bait hive. It had made a small nest, looked like a wasps nest, about 35mm across with about 5 or 6 eggs laid.

Its size is about 35mm long.

Please can you help me identify if it’s a queen wasp or hornet queen.

Also what should I do, release it a few miles away from my hives?

Thanks Nick

 

[Millet]

Well it's a European Hornet but i'm not sure if it is a Queen.

 

[Swift Nick]

Well it's a European Hornet but i'm not sure if it is a Queen.

Thanks I thought it was a queen because it was the only one there and the nest was new with just 4 or 5 eggs of the same age. Although I don’t know much about their life cycle, I presumed the queen hibernates then starts a nest by herself. Time to read up.

 

[Swarm]

I doubt it's a worker at this time of year, definitely Vespa Crabro.

 

[Swift Nick]

I doubt it's a worker at this time of year, definitely Vespa Crabro.

Thanks Steve, what’s best to do with it, take it a couple of miles away and release it? From what I read it’s probably not a major threat to my hives, but it’s probably not good to have a nest around the garden & house.
Nick

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Magnificent beasties! Just let one of my lounge after coming down the chimney into the wood burner.

 

[Swarm]

If it were me, I'd release her where she is and watch them through the year. I love Hornets, far less hassle than Wasps.

 

[Swift Nick]

If it were me, I'd release her where she is and watch them through the year. I love Hornets, far less hassle than Wasps.

Cheers Steve, I will do that, we have plenty of places for them to nest. I read that in Germany they are a protected species.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

It's their buzz I like, like a Lancaster bomber.

 

[Millet]

It's their buzz I like, like a Lancaster bomber.

I would love to see one in person but up here i will be lucky.

 

[Swarm]

They are quite a rare sight around these parts, I've only ever seen three and two of those were last year. The first of those two was a beautiful queen that landed like a Chinook in the garden, she was so big at first I thought it was a Cockchafer. I was like a little kid when I realised what she was and had a chance to have a good look at her beautiful orange and brown markings before she flew away.
Stunning creature.