This year we have had lots of bees and beetles in the garden. We have also had lots of calabrone or hornets. They are about 2 inches long, and the queen is bigger. For someone, like me, who is allergic to wasp stings rather worrying. All I have read about hornets assure me that they are usually very passive and more interested in seeking out insect prey than humans. However, when I approach the hedge and 5 or 6 of them start to skim in ever widening circles ober the ground then I tend to back away.
Apparently in parts of Europe hornets are an endangered species. It could be something to do with the rumour that 6 hornet stings can kill a horse and 3 a man. In Germany it has been illegal to kill a European hornet or nest since 1 January 1987, with a fine up to 50,000 Euros. Fortunately this does not apply to Italy and so we have bought wasp spray which can be fired up to 6 metres away.