Hornets Vespa crabro

The Hornet Vespa crabro is the largest British social wasp and the brown and black coloration enables it to be identified more easily than some of the other members of the Vespidae. This species has been extending its range recently and it is therefore likely to be encountered in areas in which it had formerly been absent. Hornets are rarely aggressive towards humans. They nest in the hollows of trees or in other suitable cavities.