Hornet  (Vespa crabro)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

This species was considered rare in Britain in the 1960s, but it has since made a recovery and has become fairly common in some parts of the south of England. It seems to be spreading northwards and reached south Yorkshire in 1985 (1). It is found throughout Europe, but it is rare in many parts of Germany and is even threatened with extinction in some areas of central Europe (2). This species also occurs in Asia and Madagascar, and has been introduced to the United States and Canada (2).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Hornets nest in hollow trees, wall cavities, chimneys and similar structures (1). They show a preference for wooded areas (3).

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