European Hornet

insects · social insects · paper nests · Europe

Biggest wasp around. The European hornet is the largest eusocial wasp you'll find naturally in Europe, making it a pretty impressive insect to spot in the wild.

Paper architects. These hornets are master builders that create intricate, paper-like nests by chewing up plant fibers and other materials, then gluing them together with saliva to form their homes.

Global travelers. European hornets traveled all the way to North America, arriving in the United States and Canada as early as 1840, where they became the only true hornet species living on that continent.

Worker policing system. Unlike most other wasps that use special chemicals from the queen to control the colony, European hornets use their workers to police each other and keep everything running smoothly.