Something very black and angular landed on my arm today – was huge, about a 4 inch body in black with some very thin yellow stripes across the body (going left to right) and it seemed to have very thin yellow legs.

Thought it was a wasp but was much bigger and looked a much more aggressive shape…any ideas?

The yellow stripes were very thin and few – about 2mm thick and only had about 8 on it's body…no idea what it was…

Could have been a XXC or all mountain wasp.

a 4 inch body

You sure ? 😕

I don't think there is any insect that large in Britain.

baby robin?

sorry, somebody had to 😉

wings – one pair or two? looong thin body or pointy wasp shaped body?

could have been a wood wasp or something – not all wasps look (or act) as mean as the common wasp

Wood wasp

common wasp

gnar hornet?

run for your lifes

This??

Wood wasp is close…but the body and head looked more angular…seriously the body was the length of my thumb (4 inches).

that wood wasp is actual size

*no it's not 😉

a 4in thumb? where are you measuring from/to? or are you the BFG?

I think this is using the penile measuring system…. it is 7"…. it is!!

Do you own a VW t25? This all seems very familiar..

4" thumb!? My thumb only just measures 4 inches if I measure back to my wrist for christs sake.

Haha 4" thumb.

Wood wasp would have been my guess although some hornet get pretty big too.

thin yellow stripes across the body (going left to right)

Hmmm. The only thing it could be that I was thinking of has stripes going from right to left… 😕

You had it upside down Bigdummy.

'Wanna knaa baart ma' fumb?'

ichneumon wasp?

sorry not 4 inches at all i meant 2 inches. Long ago my putter was 4 inches long and was the same length as my thumb down to my wrist. Got it mixed up and thought it was just my thumb hence 4 but meant 2 inches. Looks like wood wasp is closest. Thanks.

Inches are easy to estimate, just measure your old chap and divide by nine.

just measure your old chap and divide by nine.

I've got a 12 incher but I don't use it as a rule.

igmc.

Inches are easy to estimate, just measure your old chap and divide by nine.

That means my thumb is only 1" long. 😆

perhaps it was Janet Street Porter in an insect suit?