Hornets in my chimney?

[stinkyspanner]

As summer is still not really kicking into gear yet I thought I'd light my log burner, opened it up and there are these two (thankfully dead) bad boys in there. I'm not too sure what they are, they look like giant wasps so I'm guessing hornets-does anyone know?

[Ken_Code]

While pondering, I suggest you light a really big fire and then go out and watch through your front window to see what happens next.

[untakenname]

Put some water onto them to see the body colour as they could be Asian hornets, if so then then it may need to be reported to Defra.


Edit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckddw0wg5deo

Edited by untakenname on Tuesday 11th June 17:07

[stinkyspanner]

untakenname said:

Put some water onto them to see the body colour as they could be Asian hornets, if so then then it may need to be reported to Defra.

I did try to give it a wash but fair play to the waterproofing skillz, it just beaded right off

[P700DEE]

Probably a couple of Queen wasps who tried hibernating in the chimney over winter. Don't look like Asian hornets to me.

[Common Porpoise]

They are hornets. Just our friendly natives, nothing to worry about.