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Agriculture & Natural Resources Updates for Fannin & Gilmer Counties


Side view of an adult European hornet (Vespa crabro), note the brown face and yellow and black abdomen with teardrop-shaped details.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been contacted by several North Georgians who are concerned over some very large flying insects. They’re not bees and they’re not yellow jackets or paper wasps, so what are they?

After reviewing pictures or a sample that a brave individual brought into my office, I was able to conclude that every single client was dealing with European hornets (Vespa crabro Linnaaeus). Adult European hornets have a brown and yellowish-orange body with dark wings. They average about an inch and a half long, and tend to be more of an issue in summer and fall because that’s when the colony has the largest number of residents.

As the name suggests, like the honey bee, European hornets introduced to North America by European settlers, and were first reported in North America about 1840 in New York. Since then, they have naturalized across most of the eastern United States and are quite common in Georgia. Workers take care of many garden pests, such as grasshoppers, caterpillars and stink bugs, though occasionally they can be a pest of beekeepers. They are also distinctive in being one of the few wasps attracted to lights at night, so are often found around porch lights after dark.

European hornets are a woodland species that seeks natural cavities, such as tree hollows, to construct their nest. Rather than deep within the cavity, these insects prefer to construct their nest at a cavity opening. In natural areas, these insects rarely pose a problem, but occasionally, they may take up residence in barns and sheds, attics, and wall voids of houses.

By this time of year, an average nest may have around 300 to 400 workers. Some of the colony will take on the role as a nest guard, defending the nest from anyone who comes too close. Unlike the honey bee, these insects can sting repeatedly, so if the location of the nest is out of the way, the best practice would be to ignore it.

Like other social wasp species, such as yellowjackets and paper wasps, European hornets cannot survive sustained freezing temperatures and nests will not survive the winter. By late fall, a few fertile females will leave the nest to hide in sheltered places until spring when they will establish new colonies. During this interim period, it is important to seal any entryways in structures that would may be attractive nesting sites. 

If a nest is located in a high-traffic area near your home or indoors, then you may want to take control measures to reduce the threat of being stung. If the nest is in a wall of your home or other inaccessible area, call a pest control company – the nest will probably need to be professionally removed and the pest control operator will have the proper knowledge and equipment to remove the colony safely.

Like other social wasp species, such as yellowjackets and paper wasps, European hornets cannot survive sustained freezing temperatures and nests will not survive the winter. By late fall, a few fertile females will leave the nest to hide in sheltered places until spring when they will establish new colonies. During this interim period, it is important to seal any entryways in structures that would may be attractive nesting sites. 

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