Vespa crabro

The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is a species of hymenoptera insect of the family Vespidae. It is a large wasp; the queen measures 25 to 35 mm; the workers are smaller. The antennae of the male have thirteen segments, while those of the female have twelve. The abdomen is brown with yellow areas. The wings are slightly reddish.

Life cycle

The queens emerge from hibernation in the spring and look for a suitable place to build their nests, such as in tree holes or in the attics of human buildings. They build it with chewed wood pulp pasted with saliva, which produces a paper-like substance. They deposit a few eggs from which infertile workers are born. When there are between five and ten workers, they take charge of the nest and bringing food; From that moment on, the queen dedicates herself exclusively to laying eggs, while the workers hunt insects and other invertebrates to feed the young. Workers need foods with a high energy level, for example, sugars, to maintain flight, so they also look for nectar, plant sap, etc. They also feed on a sugary liquid secreted by the larvae.

• 

  Airplane attacking a hive Apis mellifera.

• 

  New wasp nest.

• 

  Abandoned nest.

The nest reaches its greatest development in September in southern countries. At that time the queen lays male eggs (drones) and new queens and, shortly after, she dies. The new queens and males carry out the nuptial flight, after which the males die and the new queens, already fertilized, look for a place to hibernate. They never use a nest from the previous year again.

Geographic distribution

Its geographical distribution extended from Europe to Asia, but in the 19th century it also reached North America, where it is called European hornet. There it is now well established in the east and center of the continent (Bugguide.net).

Dangerousness to humans

The European hornet (Vespa crabro), like the Asian wasp (Vespa velutina), can inoculate humans with its venom. Both prefer flight rather than attack. They generally attack in defense of the nest; At first, if the nest is shaken or damaged, the wasps come out and land on it to observe what happens. If the nest is disturbed again, one or more wasps fight off the intruder by stinging it quickly, even through the clothing, and retreat, landing again on the nest. Their pattern is to defend the nest at all costs, to such an extent that if it is set on fire, the wasps risk their lives defending it and may die.

Subspecies

The following subspecies are recognized:

• High Crab Vespa
• Vespa crabro birulai
• Cattle Crab Vespa
• Crab Vespa crabroniformis
• Crab Vespa gribodoi
• Southern Crab Vespa
• Vespa crabro oberthuri