How to recognize the nest of an (Asian) hornet
Everyone's talking about it: the hornet. But what kind of insect is a hornet exactly? There's the Asian hornet and the European hornet, for example, and that makes a big difference in what they mean for us and nature. Identify a hornet nest, find out if you should have it removed, and check if the hornet is harmful.
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A 'hornet' is a species of wasp related to, for example, the well-known lemonade wasp (folded wasp). Hornets come in several species, two of which occur in the Netherlands: the native European hornet ( Vespa crabro ) and, since 2017, the exotic Asian hornet ( Vespa velutina nigrithorax ). They are relatively easy to distinguish from each other.
The native European hornet is the largest wasp species in Europe and has been present here for thousands of years. They are part of our natural environment. You can recognize them by:
- Size: Queen up to 35 mm long. Workers up to 27 mm and males up to 26 mm.
- Reddish-black thorax (behind the head)
- Abdomen with black and yellow, becoming increasingly yellow towards the back
The Asian hornet is native to China and arrived here through human intervention. They are not native to our environment and can behave invasively. You can recognize them by:
- Size: Queen up to 32 mm in length. Workers and males up to 24 mm.
- Black head, with yellow 'head shield' (front)
- Mostly black abdomen, with yellow-orange on the back
- Yellow ends of the legs
The European hornet queen starts building her nest in spring:
- She does this in cavities and almost always in trees.
- If the space eventually becomes too small, the nest can also be built on the outside of the tree.
- The nest is light brown in colour and is made of chewed, living wood.
- The European hornet has one nest per year.
The Asian hornet queen also builds her nest in the spring. Unlike all other social wasps, she starts with a small nest. This is where the first new workers are born. If the nest is successful, the workers build a large, second nest high in a tree. This is usually the easiest way to recognize it.
- The first nest is built hidden, lower to the ground.
- The second nest is built high in the tree and is often difficult to see through the foliage. When the leaves begin to fall, you can often see the nest, sitting conspicuously in a ball.
- The nest is light brown in colour and is made of chewed, living wood.
No, the European hornet is a peaceful species. Just like "normal" wasps, they can sting when threatened or if you get too close to their nest. Stay about 3 meters away from a nest. The hornets will warn you before stinging.
Like all other wasp species , European hornets are essential to our natural environment. They keep pests like flies, their favorite snack, under control. They also hunt other (medium-sized) flying insects and a few species of wild bees when appropriate. Without wasps, the ecosystem would be less balanced, giving pests a chance to thrive.
In principle, no. They're often portrayed as monster wasps, but it's important to keep that perspective in perspective. Asian hornets , like other wasps, will never sting without reason, but they can. If you get too close to a nest, they can sometimes sting en masse. So stay away!
- The Asian hornet is not native to this area and has few natural enemies. This explains its rapid spread.
- The Asian hornet is particularly annoying for beekeepers because they like to attack "social insects." This makes it easier to find food when so many prey are close together.
- Besides honeybees, they also like to eat flies as a second choice. (Social) wasp species are a third choice.
- They will not enter honeybee hives unless it is a weakened colony or a colony that is already entering hibernation (and the hornet is still active).
- The biggest threat is actually the killing of other insects, which are mistaken for Asian hornets. The European hornet is particularly affected, but the city giant (hoverfly) and other wasp species are also affected.
Tip!
It's important to report a nest before it's removed. It's crucial to first confirm whether it's an Asian hornet's nest. If it does belong to this species, have it removed by a specialist.
