European Hornet

Natural Habitat

Woodlands, hollow trees, eaves of houses, and sheltered outdoor structures.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on sugary substances like nectar and fruit; they hunt other insects (like flies and bees) to feed to their larvae.

Behavior Patterns

They are social insects with a queen and workers. They are famously active at night and attracted to bright lights. They build paper nests from chewed wood fibers.

Risks & Benefits

They can deliver a painful sting if the colony is disturbed, which may pose a risk to those with allergies. However, they benefit the ecosystem by controlling populations of agricultural and garden pests.

Identified on: 4/4/2026