Order: Hymenoptera

Family: Vespidae

The European Giant Hornet was first introduced into this country from Europe during the mid-1800's. This hornet received its name because of its continent of origin and very large size. It is presently found in more than 30 states in North America.

Description: Adults are quite large, ranging from 3/4-1-3/8 inches long. European Giant Hornet's are generally dark brown with yellow stripes across the abdomen.

Biology: The European Giant Hornet is a social insect which lives in a colony or nest. The over-wintering queen chews up cellulose from decayed wood and builds a paper carton nest containing several cells. It is within each of these cells that an individual egg is laid. Developmental time from egg to adult is about 30 days. At its peak, typical nests contain 200-400 workers. However, very large nests can grow to over 1,000 workers.

Habits: Although these hornets are considered stinging insects and can be intimidating due to their size, they are relatively non-aggressive. Typically, these hornets are forest dwellers, making their nests in hollowed trees and abandoned bee hives. However, they can also select wall voids of houses, attics and barns for nesting sites. Workers fly in the evening and are attracted to lights which can increase possible stinging opportunities.