Is that a Hornet?

lauriek · Post by **lauriek** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:37 am

Hi Gerard, firstly welcome to the forums!!

To be honest IDing insects from facial portraits is virtually impossible with most species, but I'll have a go!!

Is your White balance accurate on this shot? Does the insect have this reddish hue that your picture shows?

Is it like an absolutely enormous wasp? (over 1 inch long, severely scary looking!)

If so then yes it's a Hornet!!

I love hornets but they absolutely terrify me if I'm out looking for bugs and one flies past - every time!

Gérard-64 · Post by **Gérard-64** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:01 am

Thanks Lauriek for your answer,this insect is around 1-1/4 inch long,the top of the head is actually rather brown than red but I dont have a macro flash and I used the build-in flash of my Nikon D 80 plus a difuser that I made with piece of Altuuglass..About the withe balance it was set (by mistake) on :incandescent..
By the way I have seen your Ant pictures,they are fantastics.

gpmatthews · Post by **gpmatthews** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:51 am

Yes! - it's a hornet.

Compare the facial markings with my old posting at http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... ght=hornet

Gérard-64 · Post by **Gérard-64** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:00 am

Thanks Graham,do you know what are those 3 bulbs on top of the head.Are they sort of small aditional eyes or some orientation devices?..

lauriek · Post by **lauriek** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:20 am

If it's over 1" then its got to be a hornet...

They are simple eyes - proper name 'ocelli', I think they are basically used for orientation in flight - ie brighter light means up!

More info here

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:40 am

Vespa crabro. The Euro hornet. The biggest monster we have in the eastern USA

Gérard-64 · Post by **Gérard-64** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:59 pm

Vespa crabo..strange name for an insect! It looks like the famous Italian motor bike..Thanks Beetleman.