Help Nu with a bug problem? (please, I'm begging)

Tinu.

Well, really with identifying the things. They've been hanging around out porch lights after sundown for about a week now. I've never seen them during the day.

Simply put, they look like giant bees, maybe two inches long. Yellow striped, fuzzy abdomens and everything. I can't tell if they have stingers or not, but they've got what looks like reddish colored eyes. If you recognize the meager description, or could at least point me in the direction of a good bug site, I'd muchly appreciate it.
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Namrorrim · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject:

Err Well I don't recognize them by the description, but maybe not turning on the porch light for a couple days will make em 'Move on'?
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Tinu. · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject:

Yeah. . .somehow I don't think that's going to work though. We could just wait for the first frost to kill them, but who knows how long that's going to be? They could be migrating - which would be strange, but plausible I guess. As I've said, I've never seen them before, and they weren't there a week and a half ago.
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Namrorrim · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject:

So, just don't turn the light on, bugs attract to light, light is associated with heat, so they flock too it.

Just try it, if you don't get any other solutions Surprised

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Tenshi · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 2594 Location: Star Stuff

I concur, bugs are attracted to light sources... turn of the light for a night or two, and they'll likely move on.
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Tinu. · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject:

My brother turned off the lights 30 minutes and they were gone by the time mom got home. I just remembered it's gotten really cold really fast lately, so maybe they're just trying to get in. but that still doesn't explain why i'm only seeing them at night.
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"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

Namrorrim · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject:

It's too hot during the day? and at night it gets cold so they go to light to find some warmth?
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Tenshi · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 2594 Location: Star Stuff

Actually most nocturnal insects in the States (as far as I know) approach light sources if they can find them. Instinctively, Light = Warmth. Warmth = survival... and so on.

So, I think you've found the solution to your problem. You should get pictures of them, though, for dA or something. XD
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Keeper of the Siderean Swords

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Tinu. · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

I should, except I'm fairly certain it's some sort of hornet. ^^;
We can't find them anywhere, it's rather annoying. I would love to know if they're going to sting me or not. I'm going to get my dad to murder one so I can take it to the biology teachers at school.
And it's not hot during the day - it's rather cold. . .

Dunno, it's just weird. . .
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"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

sylph_14 · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

Sounds like hornets to me. They can get up to 2 inches in length, and some varieties have red eyes.

You may want to carefully check to make sure they're not nesting near your house, since they do attack in swarms if something agitates them near the nest (probably something you'd want a professionally to do!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornet

Tinu. · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject:

This is kinda what they look like, from what I saw. This is just for similarities sake, because the stripes were smaller. Besides, it' can't be this particular species, because they're native to Asia (if it is, we've a huge problem). I'm going to get my dad to kill one so I can get a decent picture for you.
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Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

Tinu. · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

And the mystery is solved! They're European Hornets. They can get pretty large - about 1.5 inches long. They're generally non-confrontational, and are attracted to lights at nighttime. They were trying to build a nest on our porch. Hopefully they don't have another one hidden away somewhere. . .
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Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

theBSDude · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

Don't you live state-side?
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Tinu. · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject:

Indeed I do. East Coast. However, they were introduced, or got smuggled in, in the 1880's or something - like tarantulas and fire ants (which have just made their dramatic appearance in my area). So they're here now.
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Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

PurpleCactusPlant · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject: