Plate 08
Stinging insects
European Hornet
Vespa crabro
Risk
Medium
Peak season · Jun–Oct
Larger than a wasp and active after dark. Calmer, but its nest is not.
Signs
- Large brown-and-yellow insects around trees and outdoor lights
- A nest in a hollow tree, wall cavity or bird box
- Bark stripped from young branches
Prevention
- Check bird boxes and hollow trees in early summer
- Use yellow outdoor bulbs that draw fewer insects
- Leave a nest alone if it is far from where people walk
How we treat it
- We assess whether the nest needs treating at all
- Full-suit treatment at dusk, when the colony is home
- Removal or advice on leaving it to die off in autumn
Recommended treatment
Same-day nest removal from eaves, sheds and wall voids.
Seen something? Send us a photo.
Text a photo to (555) 014-2290 or attach it to the inspection form. We’ll tell you what it is, free, usually within the hour.