Throughout this autumn season I have frequently seen large wasp-like insects as I have explored Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Often I would catch a glimpse of red color as one flew by and I would think that it was an Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, which has a bright red body. Once I got a better look at my target, I could easily see that it was not a dragonfly.
What was it? Earlier this month I finally get a decent photo of the insect and began my search to identify it. I have come to the conclusion that it is probably a European Hornet (Vespa crabro). As the name suggests, this species originated in Europe and was first reported in North America about 1840 in New York. SInce then it has spread to most of the eastern United States, according to an article by North Carolina State University.
The first thing I noticed about European Hornets is that they are big, over an inch (25 mm) in length for workers and 1. 5 inches (38 mm) for queens. Fortunately they do not appear to be very aggressive, so I have never had to worry about being stung by one, although I must admit that I keep a healthy distance from them. In fact, I took the photo below with my telephoto zoom lens fully extended to its maximum focal length of 600 mm.
In the fall all of the workers die and the only individuals that survive are fertilized queens. The queens overwinter in protected places, such as under the bark of fallen trees, and construct new nests the following spring.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I’m glad they aren’t much of a threat, Mike. I wouldn’t want to get stung by that guy.
I remember being a little freaked out a few years ago about the reports of the “Murder Hornets” and was relieved when I determined that this was not one of them. Actually I worry more often about ticks, though thankfully it seems like we are out of tick season now.
Yikes! I’d keep away also.
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
Very nice images Mike! Good they are not very aggressive!
I agree that this is most likely a European Hornet which has been seen here one memorable occasion. Last Autumn my neighbor found several deceased hornets on her deck and was fearful that it was part of an invasion of the dreaded “Murder Hornet” (Asian Giant Hornet). A call to and a quick visit by her exterminator assured her that it was not the feared species but a European Hornet which he told her is the only “true hornet” in North America. She placed one in a tiny plastic sealed container to show everyone in the neighborhood and another in a container just for Benjamin. He was thrilled! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
Thanks, for sharing your experience, Ellen. I remember all of the commotion in the past about the Asian Giant Hornets, and I did a little research about them. The coloration and the pattern on the abdomen helped me to convince myself that “my” insect was a European Hornet. It is so cool that your neighbor saved one for Benjamin. I can only imagine how thrilled he was to get it.
Oh it does look mean!
Mean, but pretty at the same time. 🙂
New to me, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. They certainly are colorful!
It is fascinating that I can return to familiar places and manage to find new subjects. There is so much to observe and it sometimes boggles my mind to think of all the things that are present that I never notice.
Proust put it best: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
What a wonderful quotation–thanks for sharing it, Eliza. Some of my fellow photographers always seem to be searching for new locations to visit, while I am generally content to visit the same places over and over, taking note of the changes over time. Someone once described it as living “widely” versus “deeply.” I think that there is merit in both approaches, but personally in in the “deep” camp most of the time. 🙂