This Blog covers nature sightings and related news in the Calderdale area.
It includes all groups - Plants, animals and fungi with links to specialist sites.
Anyone wishing to become a member of this Blog and post sightings please contact us.
If you would like to join the Halifax Scientific Society either email me or come along to the next meeting.
All welcome:
calderdalewildlifeblog@gmail.com
Please contact us about any sensitive records before posting on the blog

Wednesday 21 August 2019

Giant Wood Wasp

Incredible Farm at Lumbutts has a photo which looks suspiciously like Greater Horntail Wasp (Giant Wood Wasp) Urocerus gigas. The NBN atlas shows no records for Calderdale. This wood boring saw fly attacks conifers and is native to North Africa. The insect is harmless despite its appearance.
The photo taken at Incredible Farm but on facebook page of Michael C Smith who works there. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157171473706147&set=a.10156383348841147&type=3&eid=ARAC8RWaB_AlTK2fLOa1acrURL5qLuunuZoDfsZRO_KSqxDRWochACPUh-pGwj3gnB5ZMHS_LU2DsRN5Taken 6th August.

Anyone come across this insect before?

2 comments:

  1. Hi Philip
    One of these was spotted and photographed early August in Illingworth by a neighbor 6th August 2019
    It was 2.5 inch long!
    If you would like exact details and photo then please ask.

    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've only seen it (or relatives) a couple of times. They are magnificent large insects, a sawfly rather than a true wasp and completely unable to sting. In Chinery (Collins) Complete British Insects it's listed under Horntail.

    ReplyDelete