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European Hornet Hive

Vespa crabro

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Field Notes

Description:

It was found near a channel, the total height is about four feet. The location is near 15 feet from the ground. In the second picture I have tried to pull uit al the shade to have a better look at the inside. It looks like it was carved out. If you take a good look to the right of it you can see some scratches who looks the same as the ones at the entrance of the holes. If there is anyone who has got a idea pleas let me know.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (27)
Antoine Verfaille
Waw! That is not really good news Craig. A specially not for the bee population.
craigwilliams
Nice work folks! I'm not saying this isn't a European Hornet's nest but it's not out of the question for it to belong to Asian Hornets: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6049302/Tourists-warned-as-Asian-hornets-terrorise-French.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8347585/Asian-hornets-could-invade-Britain.html
LarsKorb
You're welcome - I was curious about this, too...never seen a hornets's hive this way...always seen exterior built ones until now.
Antoine Verfaille
Thanks Lars for the extra info. That last picture is almost the same structure.
LarsKorb
ah, okay, you just did the ID. Great.
LarsKorb
Well, it's absolutely possible that it is the European Hornet, FoTony. http://bugguide.net/images/raw/RZCL0ZVLKZ1LKZAL5RAL8ROZYLNLKR6LSR9L0RPLYL6LSZBL3LELKZOLMZNL3L2LLZ3ZKR6LFLAL2R.jpg http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/departments/esps/factsheets/medvet/images/mv16_european_hornet_nest_in_an_oak_tree.jpg
Antoine Verfaille
The asian hornet would be lost if it was found in Holland. It is native to temperate and tropical asia. The only one left would be the European Hornet.
LarsKorb
yea, okay...so I think we have it? A hornet's hive?
AlexKonig
yes it looks like this, even with the little stallactites. asian hornets also !!
Antoine Verfaille
@Lars and Alex: Even Though it is quite big it does look like some pictures I have found on the net of a hornet hive. If you take a look at the photo of the man in the middle of the site from wich I have placed a link, you could clearly see the same kind of structure on the inside of the hive. http://www.twowests.co.uk/weblog/archives/2009/08/hornet_invasion.html
AlexKonig
hi fotony, it looks to me like a bee/hornet/wasp nest, horizontal layered and splitted horizontal. we look from the side at larvae/puppa cocoon/cells. there are some stallactite-like bridges which looks for me like hardend cell-wax. thats what it looks to me. Nice spot, high above.!
Antoine Verfaille
Thak you Small Wonder. I had a look at sapsucker damage on google but could not find anything that looks like it. The holes where going up inside the tree at a angle of about 60 degrees and they where so deep that it looked like a sparrow would fit in.
LarsKorb
Hornets do build their states also in dead trees - though this looks a bit too large for a hornet's state
Small Wonders
Possibly a sapsucker, which makes holes different than a woodpecker... they tend to make neat rows of holes & they will also attack the same area continually, although I've never seen damage quite like this :) Interesting find!
Antoine Verfaille
@ Auntnance: The carvings are much too large for wasps. @ David: Doesn't look like woodpecker holes. Thank you!
auntnance123
It rather looks like a wasp nest that's been excavated for the larvae.
Antoine Verfaille
Thank you, I hope so too, unfortunately I couldn't get closer becouse there was a river in between.
craigwilliams
Never seen anything like this! Thanks, I hope someone can help.
Ava T-B
Wow! This is so cool! I wonder what it is?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Nests, hives, bowers, webs & other animal architecture
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 31, 2012

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