recognize him
How to recognize an Asian hornet
The Asian hornet, Vespa velutina, is often confused with the European hornet, Vespa crabro. However, simple identification criteria allow them to be distinguished.
One way to easily distinguish the Asian hornet from the European hornet is by color.
The Asian hornet is indeed darker than the European hornet. From a distance, it appears generally as dark brown, while the European hornet is much more yellow.
Identifying an Asian hornet nest
In spring, the queen alone builds a primary nest in which she raises the first generation of workers. This small nest is often built low to the ground. The entrance is located at the bottom, and the nest can be mistaken for a wasp nest.
Very often, the colony relocates, either due to lack of space or to find a safer location. Most of the time, the nest is built high up in a tall tree, less frequently in an open building or in a bush. The nest is round at the beginning of the season, then becomes pear-shaped. The small entrance is located on the side of the nest. It can reach a diameter of 80 cm by the end of the season.
European Hornet Nest
The European hornet's nest is very often built in a hollow tree, a chimney, a cavity, or an enclosed attic. When built in an open space, it differs from that of the Asian hornet by a wide opening located at the bottom of the nest.
Bush wasps
Always built in a low bush, the nest can reach a size of 25 cm by the end of the season. Grey in color, its small entrance is located at the base of the nest and slightly off-center.
