Please help identify mystery insect

[astonished]

Hi people am mystified. We seem to have some rather large orange and brown striped flying things in our garden. Probably about 1 and a half inches long with a sting at least a cm long. It doesn't have dragonfly type wings but doesn't look like a hornet either. Am a little concerned as have found two in the last couple of days in the paddling pool and the sting is definately massive. Sound familiar to anyone??

Are you sure it's not a Hornet?

They have big stings on them.

I don't know what it is but we've had some recently too and the sting is enormous! Definitely one to keep away from, whatever it is.

I don't think it looks like a hornet mainly because the pictures I've seen on the net they seem to have similar markings to wasps and this definately doesn't, unless there are several types of hornets?

If it's the same as the ones I've seen it's definitely not a hornet.

Message withdrawn

Is it a wood wasp?

The long thing is for laying eggs, not stinging - it's scary but harmless.

this is it from giraffeski's link.

NB It isn't a wasp at all, just looks like one

That one's not the one I've seen. Mine has a long, curved sting that puts me in mind of a scorpion's.

I am running in the opposite direction as we speak those things are weird

Wasps and bees keep their stings inside unless they're using them though, don't they?

I don't know about astonished, but I don't think mine is a wasp or a bee.

Thanks people it is indeed a wood wasp,no need to be scared then

What the dickens is mine, then?