European hornet

Description:

European hornet. The European or giant hornet was first reported in the United States in 1840 in New York. Its range extends from the Northeastern states west to the Dakotas, and south to Louisiana and Florida. It belongs to a family of wasps called the vespids, which encompass all of the yellow jackets including the bald-faced hornet. Technically, the European hornet is the only true hornet in North America and is large and will aggressively defend their nest. European hornet colonies often contain 300 or more workers by September or October. Each fall, the colony produces males and females that mate, and the females become next year's queens. Only the queen survives during the winter in protected sites such as under loose bark, in tree cavities, and in wall voids of buildings. All other colony members produced in the current year will perish.

Habitat:

Sun deck