Vespa crabro - hornet (4810' N 1632' E)

Description:

2011-10-09 Vienna XXII. district, Danube National Park - Lobau (155 msm Quadrant 7865/1).German name: Hornisse; HuanausI was closer than was comfortable when taking this shot - about 30 centimetres; at this range, hornets defend their nest, and while they aren't half as aggressive as many people think (and only a tenth as dangerous as they think) there was a good chance of getting stung by one of them - and their stings still hurt, even though they aren't deadly (or very rarely are).Well, I did not get stung - in case you're curious -, and thank goodness for that.