European hornet (likely)

Woodlands, gardens, and other areas with tree cavities or sheltered nesting sites; native to Europe and established in parts of North America.

Adults take sugary foods and nectar; they hunt flies, caterpillars, and other insects to feed their larvae.

Social wasps form annual colonies, often in cavities. The pictured insect’s dark thorax and reddish-brown abdomen suggest a hornet, but the image is not clear enough for certain species identification.

Can sting if threatened, especially near a nest; generally not aggressive when left alone. Helps control insect pests and pollinates flowers.