Dear Tom. Iīm pretty sure, youīve come across a kind of wasp called Vespa Crabro, that lives mostly in woods. Itīs not unusual here in Denmark - as a matter of fact, Iīve been killing 20+ of them during early summer, 4 or 5 of them queens. Nobody I know of has been stung, niether has anyone reported any agression. This rather large insect does have a larger amount of poison, but to my knowledge, itīs the same poison as by the usual wasp - just in maybe double portion. Thus the sting is pretty painful and according to my book " ..a few stings may be dangerous to children". To be honest, I donīt feel comfortable having them around, and they are pretty impressive. The queen beeing between 1― and 2 inches long and with a very deep fligt-sound they seem like small helicopters. Iīve seen one flying around for more than a minute with a 2-inch catarpillar. They seem to feed on the same as the common wasp. They are reported to be able to rob out beehives very effectively in the autumn - "my wasps" didnīt live that long, and my wife has been laughing (from inside the kitchen window!!) watching me ( 2 meters tall and 110 kilos) jumping around the house and yard trying to wack them from the air with whatever I had close to wack with :-) Hope you and your bees donīt find them around. :-) Lars, Denmark Third year beginner together with my father. 7 hives, old fashioned stationary Danish hives >Reports have appeared recently of an attack on children in a playground in >Ireland, by what were described as very big wasps. They would appear to be >of European origin. I am wondering if any of the members have come across >this phenomenon. > >The wasps seem to attack repetitively and in large numbers. > >Sincerely > >Tom Barrett