Giant Asian hornet? This very large insect which I believe is a Giant Asian hornet landed on my dad's hummingbird feeder. Shortly after a paper wasp also landed there. The hornet...

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

This very large insect which I believe is a Giant Asian hornet landed on my dad's hummingbird feeder. Shortly after a paper wasp also landed there. The hornet attacked the wasp biting it in half and dropping it to the ground.

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Say Cheese Loc: Eastern PA

Kill that thing as fast as you can, They can destroy a hive of honey bees in a very short period of time.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

I hope the Asian killer hasn't made it to Illinois, with that in mind, I think it is a yellow jacket and they will attack wasps.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

wmurnahan wrote:

I hope the Asian killer hasn't made it to Illinois, with that in mind, I think it is a yellow jacket and they will attack wasps.

Most everyone calls these yellow jackets but I don't believe this is a true yellow jacket.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Upon further research I found that the Giant Asian hornet is not in Illinois. My next guess would be the European hornet.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

JRiepe wrote:

This very large insect which I believe is a Giant Asian hornet landed on my dad's hummingbird feeder. Shortly after a paper wasp also landed there. The hornet attacked the wasp biting it in half and dropping it to the ground.

Metropolis - I am from Ballard County Kentucky - now So California.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

robertjerl wrote:

Metropolis - I am from Ballard County Kentucky - now So California.

I have family living in Ballard County, Bandana and Kevil. Small world.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

JRiepe wrote:

I have family living in Ballard County, Bandana and Kevil. Small world.

Barlow, 1963 grad of Ballard Memorial.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Great pictures!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I wish I could see its back. It could be a Southern yellow jacket queen, which is larger and more orange than yellow.
I sent images to my local agricultural extension agent and he identified mine as a Southern yellow jacket queen.

NOT MY VIDEO!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoLPsDF6qKI

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Vespula squamosa is in Illinois. See page 61 for a range map:

https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/CAT82762500/PDF

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Longshadow wrote:

I wish I could see its back. It could be a Southern yellow jacket queen, which is larger and more orange than yellow.
I sent images to my local agricultural extension agent and he identified mine as a Southern yellow jacket queen.

NOT MY VIDEO!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoLPsDF6qKI

Interesting video. Possibly this is a yellow jacket queen. Whatever it is it is quite large.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Thank you all for looking and commenting.

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

If I saw one over here, I would send my wife out immediately with a rolled up newspaper to whack it one.

AlanTN Loc: Rogersville, Tennessee

JRiepe wrote:

This very large insect which I believe is a Giant Asian hornet landed on my dad's hummingbird feeder. Shortly after a paper wasp also landed there. The hornet attacked the wasp biting it in half and dropping it to the ground.

Look up European Hornet. I see them here in Tennessee from time to time, they have attitude!