Hornet

Name: Hornet

Scientific name: Vespa crabro

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 80

What are nature stars?

About: A very large relative of the Common Wasp, large females are longer than 4cm. Hornets live mostly in woodland and parkland, where they build their large paper nests in hollow trees or sometimes in old buildings or even bird hides.

How to identify: Hornets can be recognised by their large size, and because they are orangey-brown and yellow, not black and yellow like other wasps.

Where: Widespread in south and central Britain, expanding their range northwards.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 60
• Agility: 60
• Rarity: 50
• Cute factor: 10
• Traveller: 60

Fantastic fact: Although they look scary, Hornets are not as aggressive as Common Wasps and if left alone they are unlikely to bother you.

Photograph credit: Erik Jørgensen