Hornet

Vespa

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Hornets are large social wasps. This account describes the European hornet (Vespa crabro), a Eurasian species also established in eastern North America.

European hornet (Vespa crabro) beside the entrance to its nest in a hollow tree.
Accipiter (R. Altenkamp, Berlin) · CC BY

At a glance

Location: European hornets nest in cavities such as hollow trees and sheltered building spaces.
Habitat: Temperate forest, Towns and cities
Diet: Omnivore
Food: Workers hunt insects, and sugary foods such as fruit and plant sap also enter the diet.

Classification

Common name: Hornet
Browse group: Insects
Scientific name or taxon: Vespa
Source classification: Insecta

Three things to know

It is a social wasp.
Hollow cavities can contain nests.
Its diet includes insects and sugary foods.

Habitat and range

European hornets nest in cavities such as hollow trees and sheltered building spaces. Woodland and nearby settled areas provide nesting sites and feeding opportunities.

Appearance and adaptations

A large body combines reddish-brown areas with yellow markings. Queens are larger than workers, while all share the narrow waist characteristic of wasps.

Diet and behaviour

Workers hunt insects, and sugary foods such as fruit and plant sap also enter the diet. Colonies develop around a queen and workers, with new reproductive individuals produced later in the season.

Sources

Penn State Extension: European hornet
A–Z Animals: Hornet · Directory entry

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