Hornet Vespa crabro

Conservation status in Norfolk

The hornet is Britain’s largest social wasp measuring up to 35mm long – its size alone ensures it cannot be mistaken for any other wasp. Like the common wasp, it is striped but, instead of being black and yellow, it has chestnut-brown and yellowy-orange stripes. The head consists of stout antennae, two ‘c’ shaped eyes and three round simple eyes.

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

Hornets get confused by lights at night and may fly into windows. If this happens, turn off the light for a few minutes so the hornet can re-orientate itself.

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Information on the Hornet

How to recognise

Where to see

Hornets in Britain are found predominately in the south; however they are spreading northwards. They favour wooded areas, building their papery nests in hollow trees. The habitat must have a plentiful supply of insects, which are the main food for both adults and larvae. At NWT Foxley Wood, hornets have taken advantage of some of the bat boxes that have been put up. However, these often prove to be too small for the hornet colony and they will often have to build a second nest and relocate the colony to a new site.

When to see

In spring, usually May, the queen emerges from hibernation and begins to build her papery nest. The queen lays eggs which hatch into smaller (18-25mm ) sterile female workers. When 5-10 workers have emerged, the queen will leave the nest building and food collecting to them, and will concentrate on laying more eggs. On calm, warm nights worker hornets may be seen foraging for food. Later in the summer males (measuring 21-28mm) and fertile females hatch. On a warm day, the males and fertile females swarm from the nest and mate. As the weather becomes cooler in October/November, the newly mated female hibernates, and, if she survives, she will become the new queen the following spring. The males, the old queen and the workers all die.

Did you know?

Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps; some species can reach up to 55 mm (2.2 in) in length.

Finding out more

Arkive

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