Sleepalot

I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
Would it be a queen ?


--
Sleepalot aa #1385

Mike Coon

Sleepalot wrote:
> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
> Would it be a queen ?


Or a hornet, in which case I think you'd notice it being distinctly
brownish. Ideally get a photo of it on graph paper... ;-)



Mike.
--
If reply address = connectfee, add an r because it is free not fee.

Sleepalot

"Mike Coon" <mjcoon@@connectfee.co.uk> wrote:

>Sleepalot wrote:
>> I've got an enormous wasp in my dining room.
>> Would it be a queen ?
>
>Or a hornet, in which case I think you'd notice it being distinctly
>brownish. Ideally get a photo of it on graph paper... ;-)
>
Hmmm. Trouble is, I'm terrified of the bleeders!
I know I can kill it, if only I can get to my can of WD40 - It's
in a box in the dinig room! <sob>


--
Sleepalot aa #1385

ned

"Mike Coon" <mjcoon@@connectfee.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dll84h$cbk$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Sleepalot wrote:
> > I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
> > Would it be a queen ?
>
>
> Or a hornet, in which case I think you'd notice it being distinctly
> brownish. Ideally get a photo of it on graph paper... ;-)
>

OK, here's what to do.
Get a sheet of glass or thin acrylic sheet.
Place a glass tumbler over wasp/hornet.
Slide glass/acrylic sheet under tumbler.
Place sheet and tumbler over graph paper.
Now, place a drop of honey or syrup on glass/acrylic sheet and
manoeuvre tumbler over same.
When wasp/hornet starts a-supping remove tumbler and photograph to
your hearts content.
Then post the images.
QED.
Next? :-))

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk
last update 14.11.2005

Peter Alaca

Sleepalot wrote: ia7sn15b4kobc58fvtsbsto7811541mdme@4ax.com,

> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
> Would it be a queen ?

Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
but what is wrong with queens?

--
P.A.

Paul Rooney

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 21:20:15 +0100, "Peter Alaca" <P.Alac@151105.nn>
wrote:

>Sleepalot wrote: ia7sn15b4kobc58fvtsbsto7811541mdme@4ax.com,
>
>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>> Would it be a queen ?
>
>Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>but what is wrong with queens?

I suggest you take this matter up in demon.local, and have set a
follow-up and crosspost accordingly.
--

Paul Rooney

Sleepalot

re: wasp

"ned" <me@privacy.net> wrote:

>OK, here's what to do.
>Get a sheet of glass or thin acrylic sheet.
>Place a glass tumbler over wasp/hornet.
>Slide glass/acrylic sheet under tumbler.
>Place sheet and tumbler over graph paper.
>Now, place a drop of honey or syrup on glass/acrylic sheet and
>manoeuvre tumbler over same.
>When wasp/hornet starts a-supping remove tumbler and photograph to
>your hearts content.
>Then post the images.
>QED.
>Next? :-))

I pretty sure that ain't gonna happen!


--
Sleepalot aa #1385

Peter Alaca

Paul Rooney wrote:
> "Peter Alaca" wrote:
>> Sleepalot wrote:

>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>> Would it be a queen ?

>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>> but what is wrong with queens?

> I suggest you take this matter up in demon.local, and have set a
> follow-up and crosspost accordingly.

Why is that?
And what is demon.local?

--
P.A.

Malcolm

In article <437e4131$0$59044$dbd4f001@news.wanadoo.nl>, Peter Alaca
<P.Alac@151105.nn> writes
>Paul Rooney wrote:
>> "Peter Alaca" wrote:
>>> Sleepalot wrote:
>
>>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>>> Would it be a queen ?
>
>>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>>> but what is wrong with queens?
>
>> I suggest you take this matter up in demon.local, and have set a
>> follow-up and crosspost accordingly.
>
>Why is that?

Because he's an idiot who thinks he's being clever :-(

>And what is demon.local?
>
A newsgroup for subscribers to Demon ISP to chat in. Note that the
poster isn't a Demon subscriber but seems to like spamming that
particular newsgroup.

--
Malcolm

JK

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 08:54:07 +0000, Malcolm
<Malcolm@indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>
>In article <437e4131$0$59044$dbd4f001@news.wanadoo.nl>, Peter Alaca
><P.Alac@151105.nn> writes
>>Paul Rooney wrote:
>>> "Peter Alaca" wrote:
>>>> Sleepalot wrote:
>>
>>>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>>>> Would it be a queen ?
>>
>>>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>>>> but what is wrong with queens?
>>
>>> I suggest you take this matter up in demon.local, and have set a
>>> follow-up and crosspost accordingly.
>>
>>Why is that?
>
>Because he's an idiot who thinks he's being clever :-(
>
>>And what is demon.local?
>>
>A newsgroup for subscribers to Demon ISP to chat in. Note that the
>poster isn't a Demon subscriber but seems to like spamming that
>particular newsgroup.

Libel!

--

JK

Peter Alaca

Malcolm wrote: eVVmzgLvgufDFws5@indaal.demon.co.uk,

> In article <437e4131$0$59044$dbd4f001@news.wanadoo.nl>, Peter Alaca
> <P.Alac@151105.nn> writes
>> Paul Rooney wrote:
>>> "Peter Alaca" wrote:
>>>> Sleepalot wrote:
>>
>>>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>>>> Would it be a queen ?
>>
>>>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>>>> but what is wrong with queens?
>>
>>> I suggest you take this matter up in demon.local, and have set a
>>> follow-up and crosspost accordingly.
>>
>> Why is that?
>
> Because he's an idiot who thinks he's being clever :-(
>
>> And what is demon.local?
>>
> A newsgroup for subscribers to Demon ISP to chat in. Note that the
> poster isn't a Demon subscriber but seems to like spamming that
> particular newsgroup.

In that case I prefere a queen wasp
and a dining room.

--
P.A.

Ben Newsam

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 10:09:18 +0000, JK <johnkaye@casakeye.net> wrote:

>On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 08:54:07 +0000, Malcolm
><Malcolm@indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>
>>In article <437e4131$0$59044$dbd4f001@news.wanadoo.nl>, Peter Alaca
>><P.Alac@151105.nn> writes
>>>Paul Rooney wrote:
>>>> "Peter Alaca" wrote:
>>>>> Sleepalot wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>>>>> Would it be a queen ?
>>>
>>>>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>>>>> but what is wrong with queens?
>>>
>>>> I suggest you take this matter up in demon.local, and have set a
>>>> follow-up and crosspost accordingly.
>>>
>>>Why is that?
>>
>>Because he's an idiot who thinks he's being clever :-(
>>
>>>And what is demon.local?
>>>
>>A newsgroup for subscribers to Demon ISP to chat in. Note that the
>>poster isn't a Demon subscriber but seems to like spamming that
>>particular newsgroup.
>
>Libel!

Slander!

--

Ben Newsam

ah

Ben Newsam wrote:
> On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 10:09:18 +0000, JK <johnkaye@casakeye.net> wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 08:54:07 +0000, Malcolm
>><Malcolm@indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>In article <437e4131$0$59044$dbd4f001@news.wanadoo.nl>, Peter Alaca
>>><P.Alac@151105.nn> writes
>>>>Paul Rooney wrote:
>>>>> "Peter Alaca" wrote:
>>>>>> Sleepalot wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>>>>>> Would it be a queen ?
>>>>
>>>>>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>>>>>> but what is wrong with queens?
>>>>
>>>>> I suggest you take this matter up in demon.local, and have set a
>>>>> follow-up and crosspost accordingly.
>>>>
>>>>Why is that?
>>>
>>>Because he's an idiot who thinks he's being clever :-(
>>>
>>>>And what is demon.local?
>>>>
>>>A newsgroup for subscribers to Demon ISP to chat in. Note that the
>>>poster isn't a Demon subscriber but seems to like spamming that
>>>particular newsgroup.
>>
>>Libel!
>
> Slander!

Cod!
--
ah

e.hutton

Ben Newsam<bennewsam@wetfich.com> wrote on Saturday 19 Nov 2005 5:41 pm:

> On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 10:09:18 +0000, JK <johnkaye@casakeye.net> wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 08:54:07 +0000, Malcolm
>><Malcolm@indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>In article <437e4131$0$59044$dbd4f001@news.wanadoo.nl>, Peter Alaca
>>><P.Alac@151105.nn> writes
>>>>Paul Rooney wrote:
>>>>> "Peter Alaca" wrote:
>>>>>> Sleepalot wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>>>>>> Would it be a queen ?
>>>>
>>>>>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>>>>>> but what is wrong with queens?
>>>>
>>>>> I suggest you take this matter up in demon.local, and have set a
>>>>> follow-up and crosspost accordingly.
>>>>
>>>>Why is that?
>>>
>>>Because he's an idiot who thinks he's being clever :-(
>>>
>>>>And what is demon.local?
>>>>
>>>A newsgroup for subscribers to Demon ISP to chat in. Note that the
>>>poster isn't a Demon subscriber but seems to like spamming that
>>>particular newsgroup.
>>
>>Libel!
>
> Slander!
>
> --
>
> Ben Newsam
Libel is written; slander is spoken.
I haven't heard anything with my ears on this NG.

--
Edwin Hutton (use edDOThuttonATlsaevaPOINTuklinuxSTOPnet for email)
....Grant we beseech Thee that, ... during our journeys through the
Internet we will ... treat with charity and patience all those souls
whom we encounter. Amen.From <http://www.catholic.org/isidore>

Ben Newsam

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 22:08:27 +0000, "e.hutton"
<caterpillar@amuscaria.invalid> wrote:

>Libel is written; slander is spoken.
>I haven't heard anything with my ears on this NG.


>A newsgroup for subscribers to Demon ISP to _chat_ in.

--

Ben Newsam

Michael J Davis

Peter Alaca <P.Alac@151105.nn> observed
>Sleepalot wrote: ia7sn15b4kobc58fvtsbsto7811541mdme@4ax.com,
>
>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>> Would it be a queen ?
>
>Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>but what is wrong with queens?
>
They don't sting?

Mike
[The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting]
--
Michael J Davis
<><
Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused
the meaning of "discussion" with "digression".
<><

Peter Alaca

Michael J Davis wrote: 6HwD8JGQdxgDFwAu@trustsof.demon.co.uk,

> Peter Alaca <P.Alac@151105.nn> observed
>> Sleepalot wrote: ia7sn15b4kobc58fvtsbsto7811541mdme@4ax.com,
>>
>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>> Would it be a queen ?
>>
>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>> but what is wrong with queens?
>>
> They don't sting?

As far as I know, only the female workers sting,
but I am not very sure (Never tried a queen).
As long as you don't disturb a nest, there is no
reason to fear wasps. And a queen is always
alone. Just show her the door.

--
º°º°º°º < Peter Alaca > º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°

Mike Coon

Peter Alaca wrote:
> Michael J Davis wrote: 6HwD8JGQdxgDFwAu@trustsof.demon.co.uk,
>
>> Peter Alaca <P.Alac@151105.nn> observed
>>> Sleepalot wrote: ia7sn15b4kobc58fvtsbsto7811541mdme@4ax.com,
>>>
>>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>>> Would it be a queen ?
>>>
>>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>>> but what is wrong with queens?
>>>
>> They don't sting?
>
> As far as I know, only the female workers sting,
> but I am not very sure (Never tried a queen).
> As long as you don't disturb a nest, there is no
> reason to fear wasps. And a queen is always
> alone. Just show her the door.


Since the sting is a modified ovipositor I presume they don't having a
stinging mechanism if their job is laying eggs.



Mike.
--
If reply address = connectfee, add an r because it is free not fee.

Peter Alaca

Mike Coon wrote:
> Peter Alaca wrote:
>> Michael J Davis wrote:
>>> Peter Alaca observed
>>>> Sleepalot wrote:

>>>>> I've got an enormous wasp in my didning room.
>>>>> Would it be a queen ?

>>>> Yes, in this time of year it is a queen
>>>> but what is wrong with queens?

>>> They don't sting?

>> As far as I know, only the female workers sting,
>> but I am not very sure (Never tried a queen).
>> As long as you don't disturb a nest, there is no
>> reason to fear wasps. And a queen is always
>> alone. Just show her the door.
>
>
> Since the sting is a modified ovipositor I presume they
> don't having a stinging mechanism if their job is laying eggs.

That's what I thought.

--
p.a.

catwasp

OK I have to step in here.

Queen wasps can sting. It's not just the queen that lay eggs so I'm
afraid the modified ovipositor theory doesn't work.

Catwasp

David Lee

catwasp wrote in message ...
> OK I have to step in here.
>
> Queen wasps can sting. It's not just the queen that lay eggs so I'm
> afraid the modified ovipositor theory doesn't work.

I thought that was the case - it's confirmed at
http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/wasp.htm

Incidentally this appears to be an extremely good entomological resource
(which I have just book-marked!) and the owner - David Kendall, Consulting
Entomologist - offers a free insect identification service (for
non-comercial purposes) based on emailed descriptions or images. He will
also identify (generally down to species)samples posted in by UK residents
for a very reasonable fee of 10 quid per sample.

David

Malcolm

In article <1132749475.650580.241740@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
catwasp <catherine.catwasp@gmail.com> writes
>OK I have to step in here.
>
>Queen wasps can sting. It's not just the queen that lay eggs so I'm
>afraid the modified ovipositor theory doesn't work.
>
The following URL seems reasonably authoritative and confirms that
queens can sting, but the idea that wasps other than queens can lay eggs
isn't mentioned and is certainly not something I've come across before.

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/wasp.htm

--
Malcolm

catwasp

Certainly the queen lays most of the eggs upon a nest. However, even
though they are unfertilised, workers can produce males and egg
genotyping has revealed that this often takes place, to varying
degrees, depending upon the species in question.

Catwasp

David Lee

Malcolm wrote...
>>Queen wasps can sting. It's not just the queen that lay eggs so I'm
>>afraid the modified ovipositor theory doesn't work.
>>
> The following URL seems reasonably authoritative and confirms that queens
> can sting, but the idea that wasps other than queens can lay eggs isn't
> mentioned and is certainly not something I've come across before.
>
> http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/wasp.htm

I've come across the idea of workers laying eggs before but can't remember
the details. A line in Michael Chinery's Collins Field Guide to Insects
(UK/Europe) says of social hymenoptera workers: "These [workers] are also
female insects but they are not fully developed and only in exceptional
circumstances can they lay eggs." Perhaps "exceptional circumstances" may
include a colony under stress with no resident queen?

Re the Kendall Bioresearch site - as I have already posted it appears to be
an excellent resource but it is blighted by an irritating EasySpace
advertising banner that keeps popping up. However you can easily block this
(at least in Internet Explorer) by adding www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk to
the "Restricted Sites" zone of your browser(Internet Options/Security). By
default this forbids scripts from running and so kills the banner. So far I
haven't come across any problems with doing this although you can quickly
move the site back into the Internet Zone if something doesn't work.

David

catwasp

In an advanced eusocial insect like the one in question I think it
would be unusual for egg-laying to take place by workers except under
the exceptional circumstances you mentioned. Worker egg laying is more
common in primitive eusocials such as Polistes but I'm just trying to
make the point that egg layers can sting.

Catwasp

Peter Alaca

David Lee wrote: qcednRODUOA05BneRVnytg@eclipse.net.uk,

> Malcolm wrote...
>>> Queen wasps can sting. It's not just the queen that lay eggs so I'm
>>> afraid the modified ovipositor theory doesn't work.
>>>
>> The following URL seems reasonably authoritative and confirms that
>> queens can sting, but the idea that wasps other than queens can lay
>> eggs isn't mentioned and is certainly not something I've come across
>> before. http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/wasp.htm
>
> I've come across the idea of workers laying eggs before but can't
> remember the details. A line in Michael Chinery's Collins Field
> Guide to Insects (UK/Europe) says of social hymenoptera workers:
> "These [workers] are also female insects but they are not fully
> developed and only in exceptional circumstances can they lay eggs."
> Perhaps "exceptional circumstances" may include a colony under
> stress with no resident queen?
> Re the Kendall Bioresearch site - as I have already posted it appears
> to be an excellent resource but it is blighted by an irritating
> EasySpace advertising banner that keeps popping up. However you can
> easily block this (at least in Internet Explorer) by adding
> www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk to the "Restricted Sites" zone of your
> browser(Internet Options/Security). By default this forbids scripts
> from running and so kills the banner. So far I haven't come across
> any problems with doing this although you can quickly move the site
> back into the Internet Zone if something doesn't work.
> David

in my main sources (Peters et al 2004, De wespen
en mieren van Nederland" and Bellmann 1995,
"Bijen Wespen en Mieren"), I found no indication for
more then one queen among the (Dolicho)Vespula
species, but it is mentioned for Polistes (fieldwasps).
The same information is on this site.

http://es.rice.edu/projects/Bios321/Polistinewasps.html
Colonies are started in the spring by mated,
overwintered females that emerge from their
hibernation sites on warm days. While single
females sometimes start a colony, often times a
group of females will found a colony together. This
group of females must fight amongst themselves to
establish a dominance hierarchy. The female at the
top of the hierarchy becomes the queen, while the
rest of the foundresses start to function as
workers. The ovaries of the queen become well
developed and she turns into the main egg layer.
The ovaries of the rest of the foundresses start to
decrease in size as they take on the dangerous
tasks of foraging for water, for plant fibers to
construct the nest, and for nectar and caterpillars
to feed the queens and her offspring.

See also
http://www.earthlife.net/insects/socwasps.html


--
º°º°º°º < Peter Alaca > º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°

Stewart Robert Hinsley

In message <BNrhVXKsiGhDFwfo@indaal.demon.co.uk>, Malcolm
<Malcolm@indaal.demon.co.uk> writes
>
>In article <1132749475.650580.241740@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
>catwasp <catherine.catwasp@gmail.com> writes
>>OK I have to step in here.
>>
>>Queen wasps can sting. It's not just the queen that lay eggs so I'm
>>afraid the modified ovipositor theory doesn't work.
>>
>The following URL seems reasonably authoritative and confirms that
>queens can sting, but the idea that wasps other than queens can lay
>eggs isn't mentioned and is certainly not something I've come across
>before.
>
>http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/wasp.htm
>
It's been seen in several social hymenoptera. For example

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20050319/bob8.asp
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

Gill

I was wataching life in the undergrowth last night and it showed
Bumblebee workers laying eggs. It happens towards the end of the season
when the queen stops producing the suppressent pheromone because she
needs to lay eggs that will provide fertile adults.
David attenborough said it so it must be true