Do European Hornets sting?

[karenjane25]

Hi I have seen two enormous creatures lately. One in the summer, attacking a butterfly mid-air and one today, dozy in the warmth of the house. We live very near a large mixed woodland, on the Dorest/Wiltshire border. Having looked them up online I think they must be European hornets, 5cm long or more, hairy, very wasp-like with a low, loud buzz, dark brown hairs. Not wood wasps or horntails, or queen german/common wasps. Too big. I let the one today out of the house quick, before I took a snap, as I have a toddler. Do I need to fear these creatures? Growing up in a bee-keeping family I'm keen to live and let live, but this fella almost blocked the light out in the kitchen window! Please help.

[ChrisR]

Well, to answer you directly .... yes, they *can* sting, and if you got stung then it would hurt a lot. But ... the good news is that they sting very rarely and take a lot of provocation before they sting ... they are much more tolerant than other social wasps At one moth-trapping evening I saw 30 buzzing around the gathered crowds and they settled on people ... walked about and buzzed off again, basically proving that if you don't give them anything to worry about then they won't bother you

[Jim Ford]

I was stung by a hornet about 3 years ago, when I got too close to the nest to investigate. It was just a warning 'dab' on the back of the hand and didn't hurt much. After about 10 minutes it just felt warm.

Jim

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

It was just a warning 'dab' on the back of the hand and didn't hurt much. After about 10 minutes it just felt warm.

Hi Jim, How do you react to normal common wasp stings in comparison? I have always thought that the reaction relies a lot on the individual - some people hardly notice a sting while others swell up like footballs.

[Jason Claxton]

Do Hornets behave differently in numbers?Presumably any change in behaviour is because somebody is close to a nest.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Hi Jim, How do you react to normal common wasp stings in comparison?

Wasp stings hurt me, but not a lot and they don't last long.

I had a big wasps nest in the loft last year. I bought a can of the nest destroying foam to deal with it myself. The instructions said to spray at the entrance - but the entrance was outside somewhere. I resolved to produce my own 'entrance'! I wore a hat and head net, gloves and tucked my trousers into my socks. I next climbed into the loft with a garden hoe and sighted up the nest before switching off the light - so the wasps wouldn't be able to see me. I then thrust the hoe at the nest (remember - I said it was a big one!) and directed the foam at where I judged the hole I'd made to be. 'Pandora's Box' erupted - and because my legs were silhouetted against the open loft hatch, they went for my legs and I received about 20 stings through my thin trousers!

I'll remember to close the loft hatch next time!

Jim

[Jason Claxton]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I was stung by a hornet about 3 years ago, when I got too close to the nest to investigate. It was just a warning 'dab' on the back of the hand and didn't hurt much. After about 10 minutes it just felt warm.

Jim

When I was a lot younger I used to play about provoking wasp nests,I certainly got mine,but found that the stings to the top of head ,really did not hurt compared to those on other more fleshy parts,again as Jim ,there was a short reaction.

[eucera]

Hi KarenJane

I have seen plenty of Hornets on the Wilts/Dorset border, especially in the Scrubbity Barrows Woods near Dean End.

I would agree with all that's been posted and add that male hornets (which are certainly flying now) don't even have a sting.