Bees, wasps, and hornets can be tricky pests to manage. They can even be deadly if you’re allergic to their venom. The European hornet is one of the largest examples of its kind in the U.S. Learn how to recognize these massive insects so you know what to do when you find one in your house or yard.
What Is a European Hornet?
The scientific name for the European hornet is Vespa crabro. They’re in the order Hymenoptera which contains bees and wasps. They’re in the family Vespidae, which contains:
- Yellow jackets
- Hornets
- Paper wasps
European hornets are also commonly called brown hornets and giant hornets.
Most of these insects die off in the fall. Only the queens — who are in charge of reproduction — survive the winter.
What do European hornets look like? European hornets have distinct looks, depending on their role in the central hive. Workers — the most common type seen flying around outside — grow to be about an inch to an inch-and-a-half long.
The queens can reach up to 2 inches in length. They’re likely the largest wasp species that you’ll see within their U.S. habitats.
The European hornet's head is red and yellow. Just below its head, its thorax is red and brown. Its abdomen is brown at the top and almost all yellow toward its rear end. Small brown teardrop shapes disrupt the yellow.
What do European hornets eat? European hornets are predators. For food, they hunt down:
- Grasshoppers
- Yellow jackets
- Assorted species of flies
They also need to find stores of sugar and other carbohydrates. These come from sources like fallen fruit and tree sap.
Where Do European Hornets Live?
As their name suggests, European hornets originally evolved in Europe and parts of Asia. They were first seen in North America in the 1840s. They’re now well-established in eastern U.S. states. Their territory continues to expand to the west.
You’ll mostly find European hornets in forests and the regions that border them. They can invade suburban areas that have a lot of trees.
European hornets build paper nests for their homes. They particularly like to build their nests in places well above the ground — like hollow spaces within trees. But some belowground nests have also been reported.
They also like to build nests in human structures, including:
- Barns
- Sheds
- Attics
- Wall voids
Signs You Have European Hornets
If you’ve spotted a paper nest somewhere on your property, keep an eye out for the exact insects that are moving in and out of it. Seeing the actual hornet is the best way to tell whether or not you have a problem with this species.
Keep in mind that just because European hornets have built a nest in a certain spot one year doesn’t mean that they’ll be back the next. The queens that survive the winter build a new nest each spring.
Why Do You Get European Hornets?
If you have European hornets in the neighborhood, it’s probably because you live in an area with a lot of trees.
Plus, European hornets are nocturnal and are sometimes attracted to outdoor lighting. Your lighting setup could be a reason why they find your yard particularly attractive.
They will also prefer your lawn if you have lilac bushes or fruit trees.
If you find European hornets living in the walls of your house, then you know that there’s some kind of entrance that they were able to get through.
You could find a single European hornet flying around inside your home or building. When cold weather sets in, the queens find places where they can hibernate for the winter. This can include small cracks and crevices that lead to the inside of your house.
Then, when the weather improves, they could accidentally head indoors instead of making their way back outside.
Are European Hornets Dangerous?
European hornets are particularly dangerous to people with bee and wasp allergies. Even if you’re not allergic, they can still be problematic pests to have around — especially if they end up building a nest in the walls of your house or one of your outbuildings.
Their presence can be dangerous for certain plants — particularly lilac bushes. They need to strip bark off of the bushes so they can access the sap for food. This can kill those specific branches.
Do European hornets sting? European hornets do sting. But they’re not an aggressive species, so they’ll likely only attack you if they feel threatened.
Despite their large bodies, the sting only hurts about as much as a typical honey bee sting. Unfortunately, unlike honey bees, European hornets can sting you multiple times in a row.
Most people who just get one sting won’t have too many complications. Any symptoms — like pain, swelling, or itching — should clear up within one to two hours after you’re stung.
But you could experience anaphylaxis if you’re allergic to bees and wasps. Signs of anaphylaxis include:
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling in your face or throat
- Hives
If you get multiple stings, the quantity of venom in your body can also lead to serious symptoms. These include:
How to Treat a European Hornet Exposure
After getting stung, you should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if:
- You know that you’re allergic to bee or wasp stings
- You start to experience the symptoms of an allergic reaction
- You start to experience full-body symptoms — ones that aren’t specific to the place where you were stung
Use an allergy response kit if you have one on hand.
If you’re only experiencing a localized, normal reaction to the sting, then you should first make sure that the hornet’s stinger isn’t stuck in your arm. If it’s there, gently scrape it out with a credit card or the dull side of a knife.
Then you should:
- Wash the area with soap and water
- Apply an antihistamine cream or cortisone cream to the area
- Ice the area to reduce swelling
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers to help with any pain
How to Get Rid of European Hornets
The simplest way to manage a European hornet nest is to leave it alone until cold weather forces them to die or move on.
If you want to limit their survival in the meantime, you can try to reduce their food supply by picking up any rotten fruit that’s lying in your yard. Cover your bushes with a fine mesh so they can’t access the branches.
Don’t use any outdoor night lighting if you want to avoid attracting European hornets. To keep them from making nests in your home or overwintering in cracks, you should seal all of the holes around your windows or where wiring and piping enter your home.
You can also directly spray individuals with bee and wasp repellent.
If you want to directly eliminate a nest, you’ll first have to locate it. You can then douse it with a lot of bee and wasp repellent. The best time to do this is at dusk.
Just make sure to wear gloves, long sleeves, and pants that are tucked into your socks. This will reduce your chances of getting stung.
It can be difficult to pick the best insecticide to use. In general, you should find an aerosol that can reach a distance of 10 to 15 feet. You may need to apply it two nights in a row for the treatment to be truly effective.
Make sure to carefully read the label before using a pesticide and follow all of the instructions. Pesticides can be dangerous for you, your children, pets, and other unintended targets.
European hornets are large creatures that can be startling at first sight. But for most people, they’re more of a nuisance than an active threat. If you find these creatures in and around your yard, you’ll have to decide what to do with them on a case-by-case basis.