Nuisance
Pests > Giant European Hornet
Pest: Giant European Hornet (Vespa crabro germana Christ)
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Host Plants:
Primarily attacks Lilac (Syringa ) and Birch (Betula
) but also found on Willow (Salix ), Mountainash (Sorbus
), Poplar (Populus ), and Rhododendron. (Johnson and Lyon).
Description:
These are rather large wasps that resemble cicada killer wasps.
During August and September the adults can be seen using their mandibles
to peel bark from the small stems of host plants, which leads to
the girdling and death of those stems. This bark is then used to
make nests. In the late summer and early fall they may also attack
nearly ripened apples that are still on the tree and can cause great
losses at harvest time, especially in smaller orchards.
Management Strategies:
If found on fruit trees, a fruit tree management guide needs
to be consulted for currently recommended insecticides. On landscape
and nursery plants, one must consult a similar guide, for those
plants, to obtain current recommendations for preventative sprays.
Images:
| 
An adult Giant European Hornet. (R. Childs)
A stem showing how the Giant European Hornet will peel bark
away from host plants thus girdling and killing those stems.
(R. Childs).
|
Nuisance
pests index:
Boxelder Bug
Giant Europeon Hornet
House Invaders 
Yellow Jackets
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