2. Not Exactly Aggressive
It’s no secret that hornets are pretty scary, especially because of their sting which carries five times more poison than that of an ordinary wasp. They also prefer to attack in large numbers which makes them even more dreaded. However, the surprising fact is that they are actually not as aggressive as we think.
Hornets are shy insects and tend to live in multitudes away from disturbances, but like most insects with an organized colony, hornets do not hesitate to attack when they perceive a threat to their home.
3. Nesting
Hornets have different living preferences which depend on the species. They are typically known to build their nests above ground in high areas like treetops, roofs, hollow trunks, and basically any above-ground spot they find suitable. However, there are also some species that prefer to nest in the ground where they supposedly find security and privacy. Some of the prospective spots for ground-nesting hornets are abandoned burrows, fields, and shaded dry areas.
4. Hornets Prey on Bees
It might come as a surprise that hornets are a nightmare for bees, especially when we know that the latter is very intelligent and just as dangerous. However, bees are only a danger to humans and other animals when they attack, but not so much to hornets. Hornets are five times larger than your average European honey bee and are so powerful that bees don’t stand a chance. A single giant hornet can kill up to forty honey bees a minute; this means that it would only take a few giant hornets to destroy an entire colony.
The reasons why bees are a favorite for hornets is that they are the perfect source of protein, produce sweet food and are basically easy targets.
5. They Possess a Potentially Lethal Sting
The venomous sting of a hornet makes it dangerous to humans. Considering that hornets are relatively peaceful, stings are rare. A hornet’s venom is not that lethal on its own, but the insect's huge size ensures it releases a lot of it, making it the one insect that releases the most venom per sting. And unlike bees, which only sting once, hornets have no problem attacking multiple times.
6. Nature’s Pest Control
Hornets and their huge sizes and predatory nature are not a coincidence. These insects are nature’s pest control as they prey on other insects like aphids.
7. Football-Shaped Nests
Hornets that build their nests on tree-tops tend to make football-shaped nests. These nests are made out of saliva and chewed wood and have a paper-like texture; the nests have sections with rows where the queen lays her eggs.
8. One Year Lifespan
An entire colony of hornets only lasts a year. The queen’s life cycle is one year as she stores sperm inside her in winter and utilizes it to fertilize eggs in spring. Worker hornets live from spring to summer while drones die right after fertilizing eggs.
Although hornets are not aggressive to humans, this fact should not be taken with a grain of salt. Since they cannot tell your motives, they are sure to attack you if you were to approach their colony knowingly or not. For this reason, hornets are considered hostile and if you notice signs of their habitation on your property, the best course of action is to contact a professional pest control company.
Here at Big Time Pest Control, we offer residential pest control services in Northern California cities such as Chico, Anderson, Sacramento, Redding, and more!
