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Vespa crabro

European hornet

Description

It is large social wasp. The female measures 25 to 35 mm long, males and workers are smaller. It overwinters as adult. The females emerge from hibernation during the spring, and search for a suitable location in which to start a new nest. Hornet workers capture insects, bringing them back to the nest to feed the brood. Hornets make holes in ripe fruits to obtain sugar. Bark on stems or branches of deciduous trees is chewed by adults to feed on or to build their paper nest. Damage is more dangerous on young trees.

Symptom

A large wasp-like Hymenoptera perched on a twig. Flat or longitudinal wounds on the bark.

Tree Species: Beech, Cherry, Pear, Apple Tree, Rowan, Whitebeam, Ash, Maple, Fir, Lime

Part of a plant- attacked: Branch

Pest significance: Less harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes

Last observations

There are a total of 5 observations of the species in the system

Vespa crabroEuropean hornet
Anonymous contributor
Number of votes: 0
Published: 7.5.2025

Vespa crabroEuropean hornet
Nikola Pisáriková
Number of votes: 0
Published: 23.8.2024

Vespa crabroEuropean hornet
Nikola Pisáriková
Number of votes: 0
Published: 23.8.2024

Vespa crabroEuropean hornet
Nikola Pisáriková
Number of votes: 0
Published: 23.8.2024

Vespa crabroEuropean hornet
Marek Klučinec
Number of votes: 0
Published: 10.8.2024