European Hornets

One of the largest wasps now found throughout Eastern North America, the European Hornet first arrived around 1840.

The hornets prefer to build their papery nest in a protected area such as under steps or inside tree holes. They will strip away bark from lilacs and other shrubs to use as building material, which they chew to make the paper nest.

The young of these insect predators are fed mostly a diet of pre-chewed flies and other insects, usually captured on the wing. Adult wasps prefer sap or nectar.