North Georgians are running for the hills. Not for gold, but
from gold-rimmed hornets — European hornets, to be exact.

European hornets (Vespa crabro Linnaaeus) were first
reported in North America about 1840 in New York. Since then,
they have spread to most of the eastern United States, reaching
as far west as Louisiana and the Dakotas.

Yellow
Jacket Look-alikes

“Adult European hornets are very large, about an inch
and half long,” said Beverly Sparks, a University of Georgia
extension entomologist. “They’re brown bees with yellow
abdominal
stripes and pale faces. Because of their yellow markings, they
are often confused with yellow jackets, but they are much
larger.”

Vespa crabro is also commonly called the brown or
giant hornet. Sometimes mistakenly called the
“Japanese”
hornet, it’s the largest and, technically, the only true hornet
in the United States.

“European hornets usually are more of a problem in summer
and fall, because that’s when the colony has the largest number
of bees and they will defend the colony,” Sparks said.

Nest in Trees, Barns and
Attics

They usually build their nests in hollow trees. But they’re
often found in barns, sheds and in attics and wall voids of
houses.

European hornets rarely build nests that are free-hanging or
unprotected. They often build nests at a cavity opening, rather
than deep within, and the nests built in wall voids may emit a
noticeable stench.

Night Flyers

Unlike most stinging insects, European hornets fly at night.
Lighted windows or outside lights often attract them.

“The workers prey on large insects like grasshoppers,
flies, yellow jackets and honeybees,” Sparks said.
“They
can be pests for beekeepers.”

They can also be pests for trees and woody ornamentals,
including
dogwood, birch, rhododendron, boxwood, lilac and horse
chestnut.

“They tend to girdle twigs and branches to feed on the
sap, and it can kill the tree or shrub,” Sparks said.

Control Tips

While European hornets are beneficial in killing insects, if
a nest is close to your home, you may need to control them.
Here’s
how:

* During the day, inspect perimeter walls, attics,
outbuildings
and hollow trees. A stethoscope can be helpful in finding nests
in wall voids. If you don’t find the nest, return at dusk and
watch for them. Use a yellow filter on your flashlight so you
don’t attract the hornets.

* Once you find a nest, treat it late in the day, when the
hornets are calmest and most are in the nest. Use a labeled
pesticide,
and wear a bee veil.

* Aerosol formulations of pyrethroid are particularly
effective
when applied directly into the nest entrance. If it’s an aerial
nest or one in a hollow tree, use a bee pole to apply aerosols
from a distance. Dusts of two carbamates also work well for void
or subterranean nests.

* Direct the spray into the nest opening for five to 10
seconds.
Then move quickly away from the area to avoid any of the hornets
that may come out of the nest. You may need to repeat the
treatment
the next day.

* If the nest is in a wall of your home or other inaccessible
area, call a pest control company. The nest will probably need
to be removed.

(European hornet photo courtesy “J.B. The
Exterminatior.”)