I think I've learnt that in America these evil and aggressive insects are called Hornets! I'm glad the blood orange I did not like went out on the bird table and no wasps turned up!
Great shot but wasps are dangerous so they might be frightening the birds from joining in. A new very aggressive type of hornet (I'm not sure if they are also called wasps) has maid havoc of our honey industry because they attack the bees and kill them. I am told they are also very dangerous for humans.
Good to see the wasps tucking in. @sangwann Hornets are not the same as wasps. Our native hornets are not aggressive or dangerous and wasps aren't dangerous either although they do sting when disturbed. Both wasps and hornets are good to have in the garden because they eat pests such as aphids and they do no harm themselves. @carole_sandford@maggiemae
@susiemc Well said Sue . - so much benefits to the Wasp --a friend not foe to humans and nature - are pollinators, reduce populations of spiders and parasitic insects , , form a natural insecticide and play an important roll in Nature's balance.
In our old house we had a lot of trouble with wasps when we ate out. Then we discovered that trick of letting them have a bit of their own food so they would leave us along. They were especially fond of salmon skin.
Wow- they are definitely enjoying the Melon Buffet. We have a healthy respect for wasps around here. They do help keep the "bad insects" like aphids at bay, but when they start building nests in our eaves, or in our garden shed, we sadly have to remove them. Hornets are more aggressive though- we had a nest forming by the garden hose once and both of us were stung by them. But one morning we discovered the nest had been destroyed! We don't know what did it (or why?!) but "whoever" it was that helped us out (maybe a raccoon, but ????? who knows!), we were very grateful in not having to do it ourselves.
