Social media across the 705 has been buzzing with posts featuring pics of large hornets. Many people have been concerned about the arrival of murder hornets in Ontario, but both experts and the government have stated that the insect has not yet made it to the province. In fact, what residents are seeing the European hornet.
The European hornet is frequently mistaken for the northern giant hornet. Due to their size, they can be startling or frightening at first, but they’re more of a nuisance than a threat. European hornets are typically around two and a half centimetres long, while the northern giant hornet is closer to four centimetres long. The European hornet’s head is red and yellow. Just below its head, its thorax is red and brown. Its abdomen is brown at the top and almost all yellow toward its rear end with small, brown teardrop shapes. This photo from the Ontario Beekeepers Association shows the distinct differences in appearance from the northern giant hornet.
As their name suggests, European hornets originated in Europe. They were first seen in North America in the 1840s and are now well established in eastern parts of the continent. That’s largely due to the fact that they are well suited to regions like ours. They love lots of trees and like to build their paper nests in places well above the ground — like hollow spaces within trees. But some belowground nests have also been reported. They also like to build nests in barns, sheds, attics, and wall voids. To keep them from making nests in your home or overwintering in cracks, you should seal all of the holes around your windows or where wiring and piping enter your home. If a nest is present, you may notice a strong stench. Mature nests usually have 300-500 workers, but they can number up to 1,000. European hornets travel, so you may find abandoned nests. Queens that survive the winter build a new nest each spring.
Although typically active during the daytime, European Hornet workers may fly at night in humid, windless conditions and are attracted to outdoor lighting and windowpanes. European Hornets have an exceptionally long seasonal cycle, reproducing from late August through November.
European hornets are predators and consume grasshoppers, yellow jackets, and assorted species of flies. They also need to find stores of sugar and other carbohydrates. These come from sources like fallen fruit and tree sap. They are particularly partial to lilac bushes or fruit trees. Their presence can be dangerous for certain plants. They need to strip bark off of the bushes so they can access the sap for food. This can kill those specific branches.
While they’re not an aggressive species, European hornets do sting. They’ll likely only attack you if they feel threatened. Unfortunately, unlike honeybees, European hornets can sting multiple times in a row. Most people only experience mild complications like pain, swelling, or itching that clears up within one to two hours after the sting. If you’re only experiencing a localized, normal reaction to the sting, make sure that the hornet’s stinger isn’t stuck in your skin. If it’s there, gently scrape it out with a credit card or the dull side of a knife.
Then you should:
Wash the area with soap and water
Apply an antihistamine cream or cortisone cream to the area
Ice the area to reduce swelling
Take over-the-counter pain relievers to help with any pain
However, European hornet stings are dangerous to people with bee and wasp allergies, and they could experience anaphylaxis. Signs of anaphylaxis include:
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling in the face or throat
- Hives
If you get multiple stings, the quantity of venom in your body can also lead to serious symptoms. These include:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Seizures
You should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if you know that you’re allergic to bee or wasp stings and start to experience full-body symptoms.
The Invasive Species Centre has some really interesting info about wasps and hornets. You can check them out here.
