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AN UPDATE ON HORNETS IN ESSEX
Following my note on Hornets in Newsletter No. 4 I have had several interesting letters
from members. But first a correction. 1 have examined carefully the three specimens that I
actually collected in Dagnam Park on 17th October 1992 and in fact they are all males. It
would seem that my statement that the specimens seen were queens is probably untrue
and they were probably all males. I might have had more courage if I'd known at the time.
Now to the letters.
Tony Walentowicz at Chelmsford Museum states that the species seems to be quite
common in the Hylands Park area and amongst several other local records he states that
that he observed a small hornets nest in a nest box at Galleywood on 19th September
1990.
Jeremy Ison sent me several records from the north of the county, two from 1992 and one
as far back as 1980.
The Rev'd N.S. Cooper wrote in from Rivenhall to state that on the 1st September 1992
several workers were seen at Rivenhall School (grid ref TL 828178) feeding on some
pears dumped on a compost heap.
Peter Glassborrow wrote in to state that in the mid 1930's probably 1935 and 1937 in
Church Lane, Loughton (TQ 4296) Hornets nested in a rotting tree in two separate years.
And finally from Mrs J. Wallis of Greensted, Ongar the following fascinating letter which
we reproduce in its entirety.
I have just been reading the Essex Field Club Newsletter, and was interested
in your article on Hornets. We started farming here in l937, and so far as l
can remember Hornets were not an unusual sight. In the late 1940's and in
the 1950s there seemed to be an increase in numbers - circa 1950 my young
daughter knelt on one in her bed and received a nasty sting! Thereafter there
seemed to be a decrease in numbers. A fewyears ago we noticed that
butterflies were leaving a buddleia bush in a steady stream and coasting
down the lane. On investigating their curious behaviour we found that on the
back of each butterfly was a Hornet presumably flying them off to feed the
larvae in a nest in a fallen tree. It was a strange sight - and one which we
have never seen again. Since this time I have not been aware of any Hornets
about until a month ago (November) when I found one battered specimen on
a grape vine in thegarden. However my son who lives nearby at Lodge Farm
says he has noticed quite a few there in the last two years or so and feels
numbers are building up again.
I am extremely grateful to everyone who replied. It was an excellent response and perhaps
I can take this opportunity to urge all members to write in to the Newsletter Editor with
any note of interest.
Del Smith