Latin Etymology: Vespa ("wasp") crabro ("hornet")
Queen European Hornet (subspecies Vespa crabro vexator) at Geddington, Northants - May 2019
Featured Subspecies: Vespa crabro vexator
Weight: 450mg / Length: 25-35mm / Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated
The European Hornet is a large wasp native to Europe and introduced to North America - while scarcer than more common wasp species it is found fairly commonly around woodland edges, particularly in Autumn to tie in with fruit growth in my experience. They have a sting, but do not usually seem as agressive as other smaller species of wasp. They construct large elaborate papery nests in which they reproduce.
Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Genus: Vespa
SUBSPECIES: V. c. altaica, V. c. borealis, V. c. caspica, V. c. chinensis, V. c. crabroniformis, V. c. crabro, V. c. flavofasciata, V. c. germana, V. c. oberthuri, V. c. vexator
- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident
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