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Photo: G. Bradley
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UK
Safari Tip:
Hornets will fly at any time of the day or night towards light.
If you have hornets nesting near your home they may fly towards your
lighted windows at night.
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Latin name: Vespa crabro
Size: Approximately 35mms.
Distribution: Mostly found in south east England and as far north as
Nottinghamshire.
Months seen: May to November.
Habitat: Woodlands, parks and gardens.
Food: Sugary foods such as nectar and fruit. The larvae eat other insects which are brought to them by the adults.
Special features:
Hornets are the biggest wasps found in the UK, and are our largest social
insect. They differ from common wasps in
both size and colour. Common wasps are yellow and black, while hornets are
yellow and brown.
In spring, just like other social wasps, they build a papery nest to house the queen and developing larvae.
They will nest inside hollow trees, buildings and roof spaces.
They do this by chewing wood and mixing it with their saliva to form a pulp. This is then shaped with the jaws to create the walls of the nest. This one (left) is scraping wood from an old garden gate.
Unlike common wasps they will fly after dark provided there is light to guide
them. They will fly to lighted windows, and buzz around security lights at any
hour of the night.
Hornet Stings
UK Safari Creepy-Crawlies Section
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