What the hell flew into my bedroom last night?

[1dayatatime]

So it was a hot night and I had the bedroom window open when I was woken around midnight by something big and buzzing bashing around.

I am guessing it's a hornet but the bloody thing is over 3cm long and it took half a can of fly spray and 20 minutes to die.

Below it is a wasp for comparison of size.

My quote didn't work. The smaller one os definitely not a wasp. I agree with a PP that it's a honey bee.

Don’t see why you had to kill it to be honest.

Please don’t kill these creatures - just catch it in a glass or bowl and let it out the window - we need insects !

I generally do my best to preserve pollinators but I'm not sure I'd be composed enough to collect that and take it outdoors.

How long do they live? I'd probably just let it have the house.

Agree with others, why did you have to kill it?

Really!?
In the middle of the night???

I'm sure most would do what op did if they freaked out.

And loving the fact you have spare dead insects in stock for size comparisons

Berkshire! Nowhere exotic though quite country ish.

It looks like a European hornet and for what it's worth, they are far less aggressive than wasps are. We had one in our garden eating the bark off one of our trees. If you get another one in your house, try and let it out and not kill it as they are a useful pollinator. It probably came in during the day and slept and then woke when it was cooler.

It's just a normal hornet and they are actually quite docile, not nearly as aggressive as wasps. They get attracted by lights at night just like moths. Just turn the lights out and open the window wide and they will find their way out.

Looks like a European hornet to me. I saw one not long ago for the first time and was shocked at how big it was. I googled it and was double-shocked to learn they are native. Where have they been all my life?

it looks like a European hornet to me with the amount of yellow/orange.

Definitely a European hornet.
We get them indoors on a regular basis.
They are attracted to light.

It's a Hornet and the thing underneath is a bee.

They are usually asleep at night, but occasionally they get confused by electric lighting and think it's daytime or are trying to use your living room light as the moon to navigate, then they get stuck inside.

They are normally a bit sleepy and confused if it is actually night time. And they are less aggressive than a drunk wasp that is in the desperate for sugar phase. So in theory, fairly easy to remove harmlessly. Not saying they aren't terrifying... I can't cope with them but then wasps have been known to give me a panic attack

And I have to say it, but do people still use fly spray? 🥺
That makes me sad.

Murderer

Agree with other posters, why spend 20 minutes with a can of fly spray? Surely you either let it out of the window or you whack it. Still I'm guessing you got lots of likes on Insta and it's all about the social media story isn't it

One of those flew into our living room last night. It interrupted the Wales v Fiji rugby match. We had to pause it and then we had to have internet blackout until we got to the end so that we didn't find out who won.
DH caught the hornet with a fishing net and let it go outside. 🐝

It's a European hornet. I like them

While I agree in theory, there's no way I'd be going near that beastie to catch it in a glass.

Pterodactyl in holiday outfit?

It’s a big beast. Sorry you felt the need to kill it though (and presumably the wasp for comparison)

Let it have the house. Cracked me up but obviously sound advice 😂

Do you eat meat?

Can we chill on the name calling please? If you drive a car (or travel in vehicles generally) you've killed your share of insects!

Another saying it is a European hornet.

Typically proportional response on MN.

I'd be cautious about dispelling that much fly spray in a room that you are about to sleep in though. It will be bloody toxic for your lungs. next time just squish it with you least favourite book