Queen Wasps?

[Jon.21]

Hi.
I recently moved some wood and found these in between the planks. Not dead as they were moving very slowly. Are these queen wasps as not come across queen wasps before ?

 

[user 819]

Yes , hibernating Q wasp.
Notice how hairy they are esp the thorax.

 

[JamezF]

Look like V. vulgaris queens to me.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

hibernating queens - let them be

 

[JamezF]

hibernating queens - let them be

I've found a few rather too late this winter, but if they will hide in flower pots and suchlike

James

 

[enrico]

I've found a few rather too late this winter, but if they will hide in flower pots and suchlike

James

Whatever you do don't get stung by one. Loads worse than a bee or worker wasp, or at least mine was!

 

[The Poot]

My neighbour donned a pair of gardening gloves in the Spring and was stung by a queen wasp that had over wintered in the thumb section. Her hand was a mess for quite some time. Probably multiple stings.

 

[enrico]

My neighbour donned a pair of gardening gloves in the Spring and was stung by a queen wasp that had over wintered in the thumb section. Her hand was a mess for quite some time. Probably multiple stings.

Mine was similar, a long cushion for an outside lounger. It was folded in half with the queen just where I put my hand in the fold of the cushion. My whole arm went solid and twice the size, had a trip to the doctor's but he was right when he said I just had to let it go down. Took a good week to be able to bend my elbow again.

 

[plain_hunt]

I try and leave them undisturbed, they do quite a lot of good during the year - until they start to rob my bees of honey!

 

[Jon.21]

Thanks all. Not found any before so wanted to confirm they weren’t workers that were half dead