European Hornet - Vespra Crabro

© 11 Aug '12      photo by smck

 We have had the misfortune of having a nest of this large hornet being built in the eaves of our house which is old and not as tightly constructed as more modern houses.  This particular guy was crawling on the floor of our bedroom exactly where I would normally put my bare feet when I would get out of bed in the morning.  I placed a paper cup over him and carried him to the kitchen table so that I might get the photo you see above.  The 'Toonie' coin with a diameter of about 1 and 1/8th inch - 28 millimeters exactly - gives some idea of his size which I estimate to be about an inch and a half long - i,e, 38-40 mm.  They are normally very un-agressive, but I have had three people that have been stung by them tell me that it was the worst sting they ever received and hurt for days.  Even though I usually am a 'live and let live' kind of person,  the intrusion of a large number of these hornets into my house area and the attendant destruction of our lilac shrubs has prompted me to try and eradicate them.


This large European Hornet was introduced to the U.S. from Europe, being first reported in New York state in about 1840 and has since spread across most of the eastern and central part of United States and lower Canada.   Technically it is the only true hornet of North America.  The so-called Hornet of North America - sometimes called the Bald-Faced Hornet (chiefly distinguished by building large grey paper-like football shaped hanging nests) - is actually another version of the Yellow Jacket.  The Bald-Face Hornet is about half the size of the European Hornet and is much more aggressive also.  The European Hornet is sometimes described as the Gentle Giant.  But make no mistake, it can give a very painful sting - especially when the nesting area is approached to closely - or if you inadvertently happen to step on one in your bare feet!