City - Box Hill Area (secret location) State - SURREY Country - United Kingdom
About
A queen European hornet (Vespa crabro) flying in to her new nest bringing chewed up insects for her young. She is a very large specimen, about 38mm long.
It took 2 hours to get this shot. More will be posted on request.
I set up the camera and flash while she was in the nest. When she emerged she inspected everything very closely and very carefully, including me. Having a larger than usual queen hornet examine one's face so closely that you can feel the draft from her wings is an experience to remember. I still tingle all over at the memory of it. Fabulous!
The landowners promised to protect the nest against the ignorant. European hornets are not aggressive at all, they prefer to bite rather than sting.
Unfortunately, I was misled - the landowners destroyed the nest almost as soon as my back was turned. That such ignorance remains entrenched in this day and age beggars belief.
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