Gord found these non-native hornets in our Butterfly Meadow, and there is a hornet nest in an apple tree nearby. We usually find at least one large Bald-faced Hornet nest at the FWG every year, but this species is new to our list. (SG)

This European species has been in North America since at least the mid-1800s, so hardly a recent arrival. It has been found in this region increasingly in recent times and so no surprise it has turned up at the garden. These are the only true hornets we have. The so-called bald-faced hornets are not true hornets. This species, V. crabro, is not aggressive unless it feels its nest is being threatened. They typically make their nests in cavities and while they are made of 'paper' as is the nest of the bald-faced hornet, they don't often suspend them from trees or other tall objects as some other Vespids do. (CH)