Wasp or Hornet?

[akafudge]

This is about 25mm long but I am not sure what it is?

 

[akafudge]

I think I found out for myself. It looks like a giant woodwasp which would make sense as my neighbour was felling a pine tree.

 

[hemo]

Yes a wood wasp, they don't have sting . The ovipositor is for laying eggs in to the rotted/soft wood. Fearsome as they may look they aren't dangerous.

 

[drdrday]

I always feel sorry for them because people tend to think they're big and scary, and some kind of 'dangerous' hornet, catching or killing them, when they're actually completely harmless.

 

[akafudge]

Fearsome they may look but once I found out what it was, I let it go on its merry way