Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis ignita)

OTHER NAMES: Rubytail Wasp

Latin Etymology: Chrysis ("gold") ignita ("flaming")

Adult Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis ignita - unknown subspecies ) at Poltesco, Cornwall - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 4-13mm / Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

I've seen this species described as either Wasp or a Solitary Bee, though really the taxonomy of Apocrita - the suborder containing wasps, bees and ants is more complicated than one would initially think.  There are a large number of species that go by the name Ruby-tailed Wasp, but this seems to be the most well known of those species.  They are a parasitic species which lay their eggs in the nests of various wasps and bees - after hatching they feed on the eggs and larvae of their host species before pupating and then either

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Chrysididae
Genus: Chrysis
SUBSPECIES: C. i. bischoffi, C. i. clarinicollis, C. i. cypriaca, C. i. ignita, C. i. impressa, C. i. melaensis, C. i. schencki

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A local resident

 - Seen at Poltesco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List,  RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

European Hornet (Vespa crabro)

OTHER NAMES: Hornet
Latin Etymology: Vespa ("wasp") crabro ("hornet")

Queen European Hornet (subspecies Vespa crabro vexator) at Geddington, Northants - May 2019

Featured Subspecies: Vespa crabro vexator
Weight: 450mg  /  Length: 25-35mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The European Hornet is a large wasp native to Europe and introduced to North America - while scarcer than more common wasp species it is found fairly commonly around woodland edges, particularly in Autumn to tie in with fruit growth in my experience.  They have a sting, but do not usually seem as agressive as other smaller species of wasp.  They construct large elaborate papery nests in which they reproduce.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Genus: Vespa
SUBSPECIES: V. c. altaica, V. c. borealis, V. c. caspica, V. c. chinensis, V. c. crabroniformis, V. c. crabro, V. c. flavofasciata, V. c. germana, V. c. oberthuri, V. c. vexator

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen at Geddington among other locations. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .