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  • From: "Dolly Daniel" <dollydaniel AT embarqmail.com>
  • To: "'Randall Austin'" <ra41717 AT gmail.com>, "'Zac Morris'" <zac AT zacwolf.com>
  • Cc: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] Giant Hornets
  • Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 15:02:21 -0400

We had an infestation in our attic last summer and our pest control guy called them Japanese hornets.  I looked them up on line and found videos calling the insects the same name and they looked like the ones we had.  The main thing was that they were huge and had eaten through the barriers to be able to get in our attic and form a nest of several hundred, about 15 inches across.  Removal of the nest and plugging the hole seems to have taken care of the problem. 

 

Dolly Daniel, RN, BC, BSN, CDE
cell: 919 357-3409
dollydaniel AT embarqmail.com

 

From: ocba-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:ocba-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Randall Austin
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 2:01 PM
To: Zac Morris
Cc: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [ocba] Giant Hornets

 

Zac,

We don't have Japanese Hornets in the United States (fortunately). The hornets that people commonly call "Japanese Hornets" are actually European Hornets. They are among the biggest that we have, although Cicada Killers are bigger. The Cicada Killers I've seen around here are beautiful shiny black with visually striking stripes on their abdomens. European Hornets have bright lemon-colored abdomens. They are not known for being aggressive toward humans.

European Hornets do love honey bees. I often see them casually sitting on the side of a hive, eating a bee like it was a hamburger. Fortunately there aren't enough of them at a time to make a big difference in the hive population. If the bees catch one that strays a bit too far into the hive, they'll ball it and kill it.

Randall Austin

On 8/14/2013 1:12 PM, Zac Morris wrote:

Has anyone else had any giant hornets around?

 

I've seen three, and my neighbor has seen a few as well.  They seem to be most similar to a Japanese Hornet, but without the yellow head.  The ones I've seen are about an inch and a half long.

 

Are these some kind of cross between a Japanese Hornet and a domestic variety?

 

I have a large wooded area behind my house, and I'm guessing they are developing some kind of nest back there.  My honey bee hives are on the edge of those woods.

 

One thing about the Japanese Hornet is apparently it is rather venous and fond of eating bees!  I've not seen any around my hives specifically.  The three I've seen were around my house.

 

Anyone have any experience?

-Zac

 

 




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