Somerset man stunned after seeing 'huge beast' hornet

The hornet in Wiveliscombe
-Credit: (Image: Submitted)


A Somerset man was left stunned after seeing a ‘huge beast’ in a park in the county. The hornet was the size of a £2 coin – or eight polos, as they described it.

The local was in a park in the village of Wiveliscombe on Tuesday when he spotted the creature. He told SomersetLive that he initially thought about putting his hand next to it to scale – only for it to start buzzing angrily. He added that he couldn’t believe the size of it.

He said: “I was in the park in Wiveliscombe yesterday and spotted this huge beast on a wooden post - I tried to get more photos and thought about putting my hand next to it for scale, then it started buzzing angrily so I thought better of it. I could believe the size of it! Wasps are one thing but this was something else!"

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The hornet in Wiveliscombe -Credit:SomersetLive
The hornet in Wiveliscombe -Credit:SomersetLive

He continued: “It was about the size of a £2 coin, from tip to stinger. Or about three Rolos, if that's more specific for you. Probably about seven or eight Polos.”

It is unknown whether the creature is a regular hornet – or the more aggressive Asian hornet. The Asian hornet arrived in France in 2004 where it spread rapidly. Several sightings have been recorded in the UK since 2016.

The UK government said: "It is important to report any suspected sightings of this species as soon as possible. Vigilance is particularly required in southern parts of England and Wales and around major ports."