Giant hornet - Ask Extension
I live across from City Park & have a small screened-in back porch. About an hour ago I saw, on the outside of the screen (thank goodness) a horne...
Knowledgebase
Giant hornet #873693
Asked June 18, 2024, 6:20 PM EDT
I live across from City Park & have a small screened-in back porch. About an hour ago I saw, on the outside of the screen (thank goodness) a hornet an inch or more long eviscerating its prey. I couldn't see all of its top aspect, but it seemed to have a yellow (fuzzy?) spot on its head. Went in to google murder hornet for literally a minute, & it had gone by the time I got back, leaving me now paranoid about cleaning gutters etc! I'm sorry I didn't get a picture, but doubt what I could've photographed would've helped. Any suggestions?
Washington County Maryland
Expert Response
It definitely wasn't a so-called 'murder hornet' which the press had a frenzy with. Those are not here.
It's possible you saw a European Hornet. They are large, eat prey insects and fly at night. They are attracted to lights and may bump into windows. They are not looking to harm you and are not generally agressive if you leave them alone.
If you don't want to see them, pull your blinds and turn off outdoor lights during the summer.
Here is our page that includes them:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/social-wasps-yellowjackets-hornets-and-paper-wasps/
Christine
It's possible you saw a European Hornet. They are large, eat prey insects and fly at night. They are attracted to lights and may bump into windows. They are not looking to harm you and are not generally agressive if you leave them alone.
If you don't want to see them, pull your blinds and turn off outdoor lights during the summer.
Here is our page that includes them:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/social-wasps-yellowjackets-hornets-and-paper-wasps/
Christine