Fucking massive wasp. What do I do?

[Labourious]

I’m going to sound insane. DH is away from home with work. I’m here with my 3yo DS and DD who is only 6 weeks! I heard something downstairs moving about. I thought it was a burglar. So I made noise and turned lights on and off in the hallway. I then ventured downstairs with my phone ready to call the police, absolutely terrified. There’s the biggest wasp I’ve ever seen. I thought it was a bird! It’s easily 10cm long! I’m not squeamish, I lived in Costa Rica with some massive bugs, I killed a false widow earlier today. But I just went straight back upstairs. I can still hear it hitting the walls, bouncing around downstairs. What do I do?!

I have DH’s aerosol deodorant can and DS’s goggles. Wish me luck!

If it’s not buzzing maybe it isn’t a hornet.

I still wonder if it's actually a bat 🦇

Or a locust.

You’re supposed to report it apparently. The wing spans are 7.5 cm you probably saw it as 10cm from the shock.

Recording: It is important to report any suspected sightings of this species as soon as possible. Vigilance is particularly required in southern parts of England and Wales and around major ports. Asian hornet is active mainly between April and November (peak August/September) and is inactive over the winter.

www.nonnativespecies.org/non-native-species/species-alerts/

I hope it’s not a bat don’t hurt it!

It does sound like a hornet, be careful when you or your husband go in to get it. They are devilishly clever creatures and absolutely evil (in my opinion). I sprayed one with raid once and the thing turned around on the lightshade looked right at me and flew straight for me! Never known anything like it, if my sister wasn’t with me I don’t think I could’ve believed what I saw. We killed it with copious amounts of raid and a shoe in the end, terrifying though.

I think it’s gone!! I couldn’t see it.

It definitely wasn’t a bat. Bats a small and fluffy and adorable. I grew up with loads living in the tree in our garden and they pretty regularly came into the house. I wouldn’t mind one coming in. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a locust in real life but I’m so sure it was wasp like in its colouring and it had different legs, they weren’t the jumpy legs. I obviously can’t double check now but I’m certainly not complaining about that.

Thanks for the support. I’m going to sleep!

😧

Phew! That’s a relief!

Good. Now we can all go to sleep!

Yes!! We had these when I lived in Devon. I'd never seen anything like it before or since. They are absolutely HUGE! I have no advice for you as my husband caught them somehow but I just wanted to let you know that I believe you and have witnessed the same thing. Good luck to you!

I would open a window . Do the kids have a fishing net ? I have one for such emergencies! I won't kill anything that's not gonna kill me. Hornets aren't actually aggressive usually - it will likely fly to a window so I'd just open a few downstairs (if it's not security risk ) and let it bumble on its way

I would report it tomorrow @Labourious .

we get massive hornets in our orchard at this time of year, it was a bit later last year. I think I’ve read that they are more dangerous, but far less aggressive than normal wasps….unless you really piss them off.

Aerosol can and a lighter

Definitely go out and get a can of bug spray tomorrow if you can. I live in Asia and find that when we get one of the giant wasps in the house more always follow as there'll be a nest nearby. If it's the same kind we get here then the nest is not somewhere they live but something they've hatched out of (I think). I was trying to upload a picture of one I found in a plant pot on our patio at a time when we had loads coming in and out. It was about the size of my palm and had holes on the outside and empty chambers inside when it was cracked open. When we've one in the house I put the children in a different room and then either open the windows and doors to shoo it out or use bug spray to kill it if that doesn't work. Annoying that image upload isn't working. I'll try again later.

Oh, ffs, OP, I'm near Beds and you've let it out..... aaarrggghhh

I think I should be a Buddhist or something because I really just cannot being myself to kill things just because they're in my space and scare me ! 🤷🏻‍♀️

That sounds like a humming bee hawk moth. If so harmless, but huge.

FFS. Keep the windows open so the insect can get out. Why the hell does it have to be sprayed/killed?
You aren't in bloody South America.

This, of course.

If it is a humming bee hawk moth please don't kill it -

If you were anywhere near me I'd come catch it for you - I love moths and butterflies.

Fishing net - kids fishing net - catch at arms length if you can't get close through fear - it will likely either be at a window anyway or if it's a moth it will go for the light ....I'd get the door open - catch in net and run outside - place net on floor ensuri it can fly away .

Me - if it's a moth I can happily catch them in my hands and release bit realise not everyone can . (I can't pick big spiders up but I still cannot bring myself to squish them- everything here is here for a reason and there is a delicate eco system that has evolved for reasons - maybe unknown to us - but please don't kill it . It's accidentally bumbled it's way in - I will just want to get out .
I always remember a spider I tried to hoover up - and it absolutely wanted to live- it fought for its little life and then I just couldn't bring myself to kill it . He lives quite happily in his corner for weeks and then died of natural causes - I presume !
God I sound like such a hippy . But hey ho . Guess I am !

Oh and I find giving beasties a name makes them far less scary. !

(Preferably not big bastard or Concorde !😂 )

I'd be walking round with the kids fishing ner by now shouting "ok mr bumble - where've you gone ....!"

I have visions of a dormitory with rows of little beds, each with a wasp in it. A couple of them snoring, the occasional cough, and maybe one reading a tiny kindle with a light on.