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Is this a wasp?

LucidLucid Posts: 385
in Wildlife gardening

Hi everyone,

Is this a wasp or a small type of hornet?

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It didn't look exactly like I expected a wasp to as it seems to be a little more orangey than yellow. It's been sitting on top of the bag of top soil, and flying inside the bag of top soil. I was planning to use the soil soon and am now a little concerned it's making use of it as a living space.

Lucid image

Posts

  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 1,982

    It is neither, it is a hoverfly. Completely harmless, and beneficial. They pollinate flowers, and some feed on aphids.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet PeterboroughPosts: 26,845

    looks like a hoverfly to me though it's hard to see.

    wasps hornets have very thin waists (not like me image )

    and 2 pairs of wings where hoverflies have only one pair of wings.

    bees have 2 pairs of wings as well

    yours looks like just one pair

  • LucidLucid Posts: 385

    Thanks Alan Clark2 and nutcutlet. Hoverfly didn't cross my mind as it seemed bigger than I thought they could be. It is hard to see on the photo but I don't think there are 2 pairs of wings so hopefully it is just a hoverfly. We've got wasps around the garden at the moment, they particularly like landing on the pond plants to get a drink, but I don't want to venture in to the bag and disturb a wasp or hornet.

    Lucid image

  • nutcutletnutcutlet PeterboroughPosts: 26,845

    There are some hoverflies bigger than some wasps.

  • LucidLucid Posts: 385

    Thanks nutcutlet, I'll have to keep that in mind.

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