Often, just the thought of it can cause panic. But why is a hornet dangerous for a person if they are so afraid of him? Only the amount of injected poison and the myths spread about hornets. The risk to human life with a single bite can only be for those who suffer from an allergy to insect bites. Multiple bites can be ignored, since in this case even small domestic ants are dangerous.

Myths and reality

There are many frightening myths about very "dangerous" hornets:

• attack for no reason;
• the bite is very painful;
• the hornet has 9 stings;
• poison from seven bites is enough to kill a horse;
• three bites are enough to kill a person;
• poison is much stronger than bee and affects the entire body.

Quite enough frightening facts to try with all your might to avoid the hornet and. But these points will have to be considered separately and in detail.

attacks

As a social nest-building insect, the largest wasp, as the hornet is often called, sees the defense of its home and offspring as a natural response to threat. A person often does not notice hornet honeycombs hidden in a secluded place and believes that aggression was unreasonable. One has only to step back from the nest for a couple of steps, as the attacks will immediately stop. Even the reaction to an irritating smell will be only near the nesting site. In any other place, the hornet wasp will simply fly away. Conclusion: The hornets had a reason to bite. When possible, representatives of this genus prefer to flee rather than attack. - different insects, although there are similarities between them.

On a note!

If you give a hornet, he will sting too.

soreness of the bite

The myth is based on the size of the insect: the larger, the more painful the hornet stings. The statement is partially true. The soreness of a bite from a European hornet on the Schmidt scale is on the same level as a bite from a honey bee. Wasps Polistinae and Pepsis sting more painfully. But the bite will be more painful due to the size of the insect. The sting of the hornet corresponds to the size of the insect and penetrates deeper than the tool of the bee. This circumstance adds to the thrill.

Number of stings

You can find out how many stings a hornet has on your own. It is enough to slam one and carefully consider. There is a myth that these species of wasps can sting multiple times because they have 9 stingers. Where do they hide these stings, one wonders.

On a note!

In fact, like everyone else, the hornet has one sting. But it is smooth and does not get stuck in human skin. So, this is a reusable weapon.

The degree of toxicity

Much depends on the size of the insect. The larger the wasp, the more poison it can "allocate" in one bite. The myth about killing a horse or a person is only partly true. But it doesn't matter how many times it stings. What matters is where they sting.

As a general rule, the closer to the brain the bite was made, the more dangerous the situation.

Horses are more sensitive to insect poisons than humans, but it is impossible to kill them with seven doses in the thigh or dorsal muscle. But if you are "lucky" to get poison into the jugular vein or into the oral cavity, the death of the animal is almost guaranteed. You can try to save the person.

First aid

Hornet venom causes an allergic reaction, one of the symptoms of which is soft tissue swelling. If the bite was made in the oral cavity, then swelling of the tongue or larynx is inevitable. This swelling will block the airways and lead to suffocation. For a person in this case, you must immediately call ambulance. If you have an antihistamine in ampoules and a syringe at hand, you can inject an antidote. It is impossible to delay, even if "there is nothing yet." How quickly a person gets to the hospital with swelling of the larynx depends on his chances of life.

With an animal in such a situation, you have to go for broke. Provided that the bite occurred far from civilization. There is nothing to lose here, but you can still fix things if you make the animal run as fast as possible. Purpose: to disperse hornet venom throughout the body. Contrary to myths, no insect or reptile venom affects the entire body. It is local and dangerous for small creatures, in which the "local action" extends to the whole body. Domestic animals are usually much larger. Distributed in small doses throughout the body of the animal, the poison cannot be harmful. Spreads poison blood, which must be made to flow as quickly as possible.

On a note!

A truly hornet is dangerous for its victims: smaller insects.

When bitten into a large vessel

This type of contact can pose a serious danger to people. Hornet venom contains substances that destroy cell walls. The same substances are found in snake venom. This is an evolutionary adaptation that allows poisonous creatures to hunt and improves the digestion of food eaten. In the case of hornets, it facilitates the preparation of a suspension for larvae.

Of the first aid to a person in such a situation, only the fastest possible delivery to the hospital is possible, since the penetration of toxins into the brain will be instantaneous. And no one can say whether the dissolution of the walls of the blood vessel in the brain and the subsequent stroke will occur. It all depends on the dose and the individual characteristics of the organism of the affected person.

Damage to the muscle

You still need to be able to get into a large blood vessel. In the case of insects, a person is usually bitten in the leg or arm. In this case, the poison enters the muscle. If you are allergic to animal venom, the scheme is standard: call an ambulance as soon as possible and send it to the hospital. The same applies to children with low body weight and insufficient muscle mass.

In the absence of allergies, the case is usually limited to a local allergic reaction:

• the bite site swells and turns red;
• at first, a person feels pain, later severe itching;
• local tissue temperature is increased.

If several bites are received, the general body temperature rises, and vomiting may occur. There is sweat, dizziness. Symptoms of intoxication are observed.

It is not worth checking from your own experience how many hornet bites a person can withstand and stay alive. It is better that such knowledge remains theoretical.

With severe intoxication, a person should also be sent to the hospital as soon as possible. Before the doctor arrives, you can try to bring down the temperature by wiping the person with a wet cloth. Aspirin should not be given, as this drug thins the blood, and the walls of the vessels are already damaged by the hornet's venom. Through damaged walls, blood can seep into the tissues.

In case of local irritation, the bite site is washed cold water and apply ice. This will reduce pain and itching. After that, you need to consult a doctor and follow his recommendations.

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Wasps and hornets - unwanted and, unfortunately, frequent guests in the garden. They eat fruits, attack beneficial species animals (eg bees) may also pose a danger to humans. How to deal with them, or is it better to leave them alone or try to get rid of them?

The most common types of wasps and hornets

Wasps and hornets belong to the same family Real wasps, fold-winged wasps (lat. Vespidae) . They feed on other insects (mosquitoes, flies and), fruits and sap of trees. They can cause great harm in cultivation, especially in the stone fruit garden. They are also a great threat to bees, because in addition to the mass destruction of these beneficial insects, their honey is stolen.

In our area there are several species of these insects. Many of them live near areas where people live. The most common of them:

• common wasp (lat. Vespula vulgaris) - body length is 10-20mm, builds nests in the ground;
• germanic wasp (lat. Vespula germanica ) less - the length of her body is 10-12mm, builds a nest on the ground, in the walls and on the roof;
• forest wasp (lat. Dolichovespula sylvestris ) - the length of her body is 14-18mm, inhabits the hollows of trees, balconies and attics;
• Hornet (European) common (lat. Vespa crabro), often the name is simply shortened to “hornet” - the body length is 20-25 mm, it nests in hollows, streets, sheds, under the roofs of verandas and sheds.

Increasingly, you can hear about the invasion of hornets from Asia. Although the Asian hornet does not differ significantly from its European counterpart, Vespa Mandarinia is a real ear - the length of its body reaches 60 mm. One such individual can even kill several dozen bees within a minute.

Are wasps and hornets dangerous to humans?

Bites for a person are painful, however, in the vast majority of cases they do not pose a threat to health and life. There is no exact data on the tolerability of the poison by humans. You can find information that an adult is able to withstand up to 100-200 wasp stings, however, this is a subjective question, and does not take into account people with allergies.

In the case of individuals with allergic reactions, bites can quickly lead to anaphylactic shock, which can even result in death. Generally, wasps and hornets only attack when provoked (eg, by excessive gesticulation or body contact). They also sometimes become restless during extreme heat.

Myths about wasps often stem from the fact that insects have hooked stings and can attack many times without harming their own health. And with regard to hornets, there is magic of size and relatively loud, clumsy flight.

What to do if stung?

Bites (stings) by wasps and hornets should never be ignored!

An ordinary person feels pain when stung, but that's where the trouble ends. In order to “relieve” the symptoms, you can apply a soda compress or hydrocortisone ointment. From the "grandmother's" advice, you can try to attach a cut onion, parsley or vinegar compress.

Alarming symptoms after a bite are a rash, significant swelling, hoarseness, and respiratory failure. In this case, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. An allergic person who is sensitive to wasp venom should immediately inject adrenaline.

Where do wasps and hornets build their nests?

Nests are built in tree cavities, abandoned beehives, birdhouses, sometimes outdoors but in sheltered places (eg, under roof overhangs, in holes or depressions in building walls).

To build a nest, they use paper pulp, which they produce themselves, chewing and wetting wood fibers with sticky saliva.

How to get rid of wasps and hornets?

First, it should be noted that there is no completely safe way to get rid of these insects (except for a specialized company). Self-liquidation of nests may result in bites.

If you decide to act on your own, you should use protective clothing, tight gloves and a face net (mosquito net). Clothing should not be bright - it irritates wasps and hornets. Even with such protection, after the event, it is better to quickly go to a safe place

.

Nest destruction

Nests on the ground can be filled with boiling water (cold water cannot be used - this will only anger insects) or insecticidal preparations (Cordon, Solfak).

The procedure should be carried out during the low activity of wasps and hornets (eg early in the morning). Nests on trees and walls can be fumigated with sulfur or dust, karbofos or dichlorvos in an aerosol can be blown inside.

Wasp traps

They are also quite effective. traps– for example, cut plastic bottles with juice, honey. You can buy ready-made traps in gardening stores. They are filled with a special liquid that attracts wasps and hornets, but does not attract bees.

Prevention

It is necessary to regularly remove fallen fruits, periodically check birdhouses and sheds, and close the garbage container.

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Hornet (lat. Vespa) - an arthropod insect that belongs to the subclass winged insects, the infraclass new-winged insects, the superorder of insects with complete transformation, the hymenoptera order, the stalked-bellied suborder, the wasp superfamily, the real wasp family, the vespin subfamily, the hornet genus.

The Latin designation of the genus in translation means "wasp".

Hornet - description, structure, characteristics. What does a hornet look like?

On average, insects measure from 1.8 to 3.5 cm, and the largest are hornets. type Vespa mandarinia - they reach 5.5 cm in length. Hornets differ from other representatives of the family of real wasps in a larger head and a fairly wide crown, the part of the head located behind the compound eyes. In addition to compound eyes, the insect has 3 simple eyes. Head color may be black, yellow, orange or reddish brown with yellow spots present. On the head are brown-black antennae, the number of segments of which differs in females and males. The mandibles (jaws) of the insect are black, brown or yellow-orange in color.

The hornet has a rounded abdomen, constricted slim waist in the area of ​​articulation with the chest. The color of many hornets resembles the color of an ordinary wasp, however, the alternation of black, yellow or reddish-orange stripes may not be so pronounced and clearly expressed. In other species, the abdomen is brown or black with one red or yellow stripe, and sometimes without them at all. For example, a variable hornet (lat. Vespa fumida) is completely brown-black in color with alternating lighter and darker tones. Also, the stripes on the abdomen of some varieties may have White color(as in species Vespa luctuosa). Hairs of various sizes grow on the body of the insect.

At the end of the abdomen of working females and the uterus is an ovipositor, which is a sting. In a calm state, it is imperceptible, as it is drawn into the abdomen of the insect. At the base of the sting is a steamy poisonous gland with a reservoir filled with poison.

The hornet's sting is straight and smooth, unlike a bee's, it does not have notches, so hornets, like other wasps, can sting repeatedly.

In total, the hornet has 3 pairs of legs black, brown or yellow color, depending on the type. In the structure of the limbs, a coxa, a trochanter, a thigh, a lower leg with a spur at the end, and a paw stand out. The webbed wings of an insect are represented by two pairs: large anterior and small hind. The front wings are folded along the back at rest.

When flying, the front edge of the small wings is attached with special hooks to the rear edge of the large wings: thus, both right wings and both left wings form a single flying surface.

Where do hornets live?

The largest part of the hornet's habitat is in the Northern Hemisphere. However, you can meet this insect not only there. Hornets live in North America, Europe and Russia (except the Far North), Asia and North Africa. Insects are found in the north and east of China, in Kazakhstan, Laos, Indochina, Taiwan and Cambodia, Nepal, India, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Korea and the mountainous regions of Japan, Algeria, Egypt, Libya in Sudan and Somalia. Hornets live in Ukraine, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Albania, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Madagascar and Bulgaria and other countries.

Building rather large multi-tiered nests, resembling slightly corrugated, rough paper to the touch and texture, hornets attach them in hollows, in birdhouses abandoned by birds, in deadwood bushes, in the attics of residential buildings, under the roofs of sheds, in dry caves, on steep cliffs or just hang them on tree branches. The color of the nest can be beige, brown, yellowish-brown, with dark red, purple or brown marks and stripes (depending on the type of insect). In shape, the multi-tiered hornet nests resemble a pear, an oval, or a large ball. The size of the nest can reach about 70 cm in height and over 40 cm in width.

Often the nests of these insects are called paper nests, since the principle of their creation is similar to the production of paper. The material for construction is the fibers of rotten, soft wood or bark from young twigs, which the hornets carefully chew and stick together with their sticky saliva. Then the insects apply this mass to the nest in a thin layer. After drying, it hardens and turns into a loose likeness of paper. This material is very similar to rough wrapping paper, which can even be written on with a pencil. The poor (from a human point of view) quality of this paper is explained by the fact that hornets, like wasps, use rotten wood and tree bark for construction.

Hornet nest inside. Larvae (with a yellow head) and pupae are visible in the combs. Photo by: Milan Korinek

Some varieties of hornets, such as the Dybowski hornet, do not build their own nests, preferring to settle in the nests of hornets of other species, killing the host queen, taking her place and laying their eggs, which are looked after by unsuspecting worker hornets. The hornet of Dybovsky is engaged in the construction of its own housing only in exceptional cases, when there is no suitable "apartment" nearby.

Some hornets, such as oriental (lat. Vespa Orientalis), basal (lat. Vespa basalis) and warlike (lat. Vespa bellicosa), build underground nests with numerous passages. They can be located underground, in abandoned rodent burrows or under tree roots and reach up to 20-30 cm in diameter. At the same time, the depth of the nest location can reach 56 meters (as, for example, in the eastern hornets).

What do hornets eat?

Nutrition for adult hornets is mainly plant foods, especially those that are rich in sugar. Very often, insects can be observed in orchards during active fruit ripening, sitting on soft, overripe fruits (, plums). Hornets gladly feed on sweet secretions and nectar, love to feast on honey, so they often attack apiaries, drink juice flowing from the wounds of trees (, ash trees, elms). In addition, hornets are excellent hunters: medium-sized crickets, and their larvae, and close relatives of hornets become their victims. For example, during life cycle tropical hornets can destroy more than 500 colonies of bees and wasps. By the way, the bicolor Vespa bicolor hornets that live on the island of Hainan sometimes mistake flowers for bees and attack them. And it's all about the unusual aroma, similar to the smell of a honey bee, which attracts predators.

The prey killed by powerful jaws and a sting is thoroughly moistened with saliva and chewed to a state of suspension, but it is not at all a source of nutrition for an adult hornet, but goes to feed voracious larvae during their growth. During the day, a large colony of hornets can feed up to 500 grams of insects to their larvae. Some hornets, such as the Dybowski hornet, in addition to catching live prey, search for dead insects, and also collect food waste man, not disdaining meat and fish. All this is also fed to the larvae.

Hornet breeding

Hornets are social insects, so their way of life is subject to strict rules that reign in a swarm, which can sometimes number several hundred, and sometimes thousands of individuals. Each individual performs a specific function, due to which all the processes necessary for the normal functioning of insects are ideally supported in the family, and important information is exchanged. The division into "castes" (working hornets-females, uterus and males) allows the hornets to properly organize reproduction, nutrition, building nests, raising and rearing offspring, as well as protecting their colony.

With the advent of warm days (in countries with severe winters) or depending on the attachment of the species to the timing of reproduction (in warm countries), the hornet queen circles the territory in search of a place to create a nest in which a new hornet colony will live. Finding appropriate place, she starts building honeycomb cells. One egg is subsequently placed in each cell, from which, after 5-8 days, a tiny 1-2 mm larva will develop.

Eggs (small in central combs) and larvae. Photo credit: Tubiniit, CC BY-SA 4.0

After going through 5 stages in two weeks, the larva turns into a pupa, which after another 13-15 days becomes an adult, gnaws through the lid of the cell and comes out.

With the advent of the first adults (adults), the queen shifts to them the construction of new cells and care for the next offspring, practically stopping her flights from the nest. Working hornets are constantly on the move: they get food for the larvae, water, bring building materials. Hornets almost never sleep, working even at night. In autumn, the uterus produces eggs, from which females hatch, suitable for procreation. They mate with males, who die soon after. Also, in the middle or end of autumn, the old hornet uterus and unfertilized females die. Newly fertilized queens have the opportunity to overwinter in order to create a new nest the following season.

Hornet lifespan

The life expectancy of hornets mainly depends on habitat conditions, nutrition and their caste: working females usually live for about a month, males - a couple of weeks after mating with a queen, and queens can survive after a comfortable winter.

Types of hornets, photos and names

The genus of hornets includes the following species:

• Vespa affinis- Small striped hornet,
• Vespa analis,
• Vespa basalis- Basal hornet,
• Vespa bellicosa- War Hornet,
• Vespa bicolor- Bicolor hornet,
• Vespa binghami- Bingham Hornet
• Vespa crabro- Common hornet (hornet wasp),
• Vespa ducalis- Tropical (black-tailed) hornet,
• Vespa dybowskii- Hornet Dybowski (black hornet),
• Vespa fervida- ardent hornet,
• Vespa fumida- Variable hornet,
• Vespa luctuosa- lamentable hornet,
• Vespa mandarinia- Asian giant hornet, huge Asian hornet,
• Vespa mocsaryana,
• Vespa multimaculata- Multi-spotted hornet,
• Vespa Orientalis- Oriental hornet (eastern wasp),
• Vespa philippinensis- Philippine hornet,
• Vespa Simillima- Yellow hornet,
• Vespa soror- Black-tailed hornet,
• Vespa tropica- Tropical hornet,
• Vespa vivax.

Below is a description of several types of hornets.

• Common hornet, or hornet wasp ( Vespa crabro)

A rather large representative of the genus: the hornet uterus reaches a length of 2.5-3.5 cm, males are 2.1-2.8 cm long, working individuals are from 1.8 to 2.4 cm. Males and females have some differences in structure. The antennae of males consist of 13 segments, and of females - of 12. The abdomen of males consists of 7 segments, while females have only 6. Both the uterus and worker hornets have a sting - a modified ovipositor, up to 3 mm long, used by insects for guard. Males are deprived of such weapons. The belly of the common hornet is colored with alternating stripes of orange-yellow and black, the chest is black. In females, the back of the head and cheeks are red, in males they are orange. The front part of the head of both is yellow. The legs of the insect are reddish-brown in color. The habitat of the common hornet includes the countries of Europe (with the exception of the northern and southern regions), Ukraine, southern Siberia, the eastern regions of China, Kazakhstan, North America (except for its western part), the European zone of Russia (with the exception of the northern regions).

• Hornet deplorable ( Vespa luctuosa)

An insect species endemic to the Philippine Islands. The color of the hornet is brown or black, depending on the subspecies, there are white stripes on the wide abdomen. Clypeus of insects orange-yellow. The deplorable hornet produces a highly toxic poison, which makes its bite very dangerous for humans or animals.

• oriental hornet, or eastern wasp ( Vespa Orientalis)

The uterus has a length of 2.5-3 cm, males reach 2.1-2.5 cm, working hornets grow up to 1.8-2.4 cm. The antennae of males consist of 13 segments, of females - of 12. -brown in color, on the abdomen there is a wide strip of yellow-whitish hue. Scientists have proven that the xanthopterin pigment contained in this strip allows insects to convert absorbed sunlight into electricity. The eastern hornet tolerates dry and hot climates very well. Hornets of this species live in the countries of southern Europe (Italy, Malta, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Crete and Cyprus), in North Africa (in Somalia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya), as well as in Asia (in Turkey, Iran, Iraq , Pakistan, Oman, China, Nepal, Israel, Palestine, Syria, India, on the territory of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). This type of hornet is also found in Russia and Madagascar. It builds nests not only above the ground, but also underground, as well as in deadwood and under tree roots.

• Tropical hornet ( Vespa tropica)

The species, which lives in South Asia, is distributed from Afghanistan to New Guinea. The size of queens reaches 4 cm, males and working individuals - 2.4-3 mm. The head and chest of the hornet can be black or reddish (depending on the subspecies), the second segment of the black abdomen has a yellow-orange stripe. Nests of these insects can be located both on tree branches and underground.

Lives in southern China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. It is also found in Europe, in particular in France, where it was introduced artificially. The body length of the uterus is about 3 cm, working individuals are about 2.4 cm in size, the body length of males is from 1.8 to 2 cm. The color depends on the subspecies, for example, the French variety of hornets Vespa velutina nigrithorax has a black color. The size of the nests of these insects reaches 60 cm.

• Hornet Dybowski, or black hornet ( Vespa dybowskii)

• Giant Asian Hornet ( Vespa mandarinia)

This is the largest hornet in the world. The length of some individuals of this species exceeds 5 cm, and the wingspan reaches 7.5 cm. The head of the insect is wide and orange. Abdomen brownish with yellow stripes. The species lives in the mountains of Sri Lanka, Korea, China, Nepal, Japan, India and Taiwan. In Russia, this hornet lives in the Primorsky Territory. At the huge Asian hornet a long, about 6 mm sting, and the bite is very painful and dangerous due to the content of a neurotoxic substance in the poison - mandorotoxin.

• Japanese hornet (V espa mandarinia japonica)

It is a subspecies of the giant Asian hornet, endemic to Japan, where it is called the "bee sparrow". Sometimes the insect is found on Sakhalin. This is a very large hornet, its body length often exceeds 4 cm, and its wingspan reaches 6 cm. The head of the Japanese hornet is large, yellow, with a pair of large eyes, to which three additional eyes are added. The belly is dark brown with yellow stripes. The hornet's sting can be up to 6.2 mm long, the bite is painful and very dangerous due to the presence of nerve toxins in the hornet's venom. There is evidence that about 40 people die every year from the attack of the Japanese hornet in Japan.

Among flying insects, hornets stand out very strongly: it is very difficult not to notice them. However, in addition to their size and appearance, their features also lie in their lifestyle. What are hornets and are they dangerous to us?

Who are these hornets?

Hornets are flying insects of outstanding size, up to about 5.5 cm long, colored alternately with black and yellow or light orange stripes, while their eyes are orange-red. Fruiting insects have an ovipositor, while in workers it is turned into a stinger designed for protection.

It looks like a hornet in flight

Initially, wasps and hornets belonged to the same taxon, but then the wasps were separated into a separate genus. The main difference lies in the size and style of behavior. Hornets, firstly, are much larger than wasps and have a more rounded abdomen, and secondly, they are less aggressive and prefer not to attack, but to run away from danger. Hornet nests are similar to wasp nests both in their structure (it is almost identical) and in appearance, however, differ in color, as the hornets build their dwellings from several other materials.

You can see honeycombs in an unfinished hornet's nest

Hornets live mainly in the Northern Hemisphere - in Europe, Asia and North America, however, they avoid the extreme northern and southern regions, mainly preferring a temperate climate. They live in large families in large paper nests, numbering up to 10 tiers. Usually, hornet dwellings are located in secluded places: in hollows of trees, in abandoned houses, in attics, less often - in warmer regions - they are attached to tree branches. As a building material for nests, hornets use birch branches and rotten wood of old stumps, therefore, unlike wasp, they are more brown-brown in color.

Here is a nest of hornets you can find in the attic or in the old bath

Hornets live no more than a year - the exception is females who fall into hibernation. In the spring, approximately in the middle of May, the queens wake up, find a suitable place for the future "home" and lay eggs, which turn into larvae after five days. Then the hornet's nest begins to build.

Hornet feeds larvae in a nest under construction

The larva develops within nine days, then pupates and in two weeks turns into an adult insect. As the number of hornets increases, the family grows and gradually splits into several smaller swarms that move away from the main one. Adult hornets feed exclusively on carbohydrate food: it can be sweet tree sap, aphid secretions, sugary juice of overripe and rotten fruits, as well as honey, for which they attack honeybee hives. Protein food is needed to feed the larva, and for the sake of its prey, females kill other insects - grasshoppers, flies, wasps, bees, and even locusts.

Hornet nest inside: video

Hornets are different

Since these insects are very widespread on our planet, it is natural that there are several most commonly found varieties.

Common hornet, aka European

It lives in Europe, almost throughout North America, and in Asia - up to Western Siberia and the eastern regions of China. The length of the queen reaches approximately 2.5–3.5 cm, the working insects are slightly smaller, but also differ in fair sizes. Previously, common hornets were very widespread, but people have been actively exterminating these insects for a long time, and in recent decades they have become much smaller. The struggle of people against European hornets has led to the fact that these insects have become an endangered species. Now in countries Western Europe this species is protected, and a large fine is due for the destruction of their nests.

Hornet ordinary - the most familiar of all hornets

These insects prefer dry, hot climates. They can be found in the countries of Southern Europe and in Asia, up to India, China and Nepal. Adults do not grow longer than 3 cm. Their color differs from the colors of ordinary hornets, they are rather red-brown in color - both the body itself and the wings. One of the features of the eastern hornets is that they usually build their nests in the ground.

Oriental hornet is the only species that tolerates arid climate well

Chinese hornet

In some ways, the Chinese hornets are legendary - these representatives of the hornet genus are real giants! Their bodies can be longer than 5 cm, open wings - as much as 7.5 cm, and the sting - more than half a centimeter, moreover, the poison contained in it is highly toxic and can carry mortal danger for a person. Their coloring is quite standard - yellow and black stripes. These insects live, in addition to China, and in the Primorsky Territory of Russia, as well as in India, Japan, Korea and Nepal.

Hornet Chinese - the largest species!

This subspecies of the Chinese hornet is found only on the islands of Japan and terrorizes both people and local honey bees. True, Japanese bees kill these hornets by surrounding him and generating heat with their movements, which causes the hornet to die from heat shock. With people, everything is more complicated: the venom of the Japanese bumblebee is just as toxic as the poison of its Chinese counterpart. Every year, at least 40 Japanese die from anaphylactic shock.

Japanese hornet - especially large, formidable and poisonous

The black hornet has a darker color

Once the hornets of this peculiar species were distributed only in China, but then they appeared in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, and even later they were brought to Europe through France. Their size is common for hornets - 2-3 cm, as well as yellow-black color. But there are also features of these insects. First, they build their nests on tall trees, right on the branches. Secondly, their swarms can be several thousand individuals. And thirdly, these hornets are obligate predators, and they constantly prey on other insects, including wild bees. However, oddly enough, they are not interested in honey bees.

Vespa velutina - predators among hornets

tropical hornets

These insects have standard sizes - 2.5–3 cm and the usual black and yellow color, but they have only one yellow stripe and is very wide. They are found in the tropical zone, namely, in various regions of South Asia. Tropical hornets build dwellings both on trees and underground, without having certain preferences in this regard.

The tropical hornet is found only in South Asia.

On average, these large insects only seem so evil: they bite people much less often than smaller wasps, because they are cowardly and non-aggressive. And yet, such incidents often occur. For example, when harvesting, a summer resident can take a fruit in his hand, where a hornet is hiding, feeding on sweet juice. Also, a person can disturb the hornet's nest: it can be inside a hollow on a felled trunk or in the attic of a house. Then the hornets feel the danger and will try to attack the offender. By itself, hornet venom for an adult, healthy person is not particularly dangerous, although the bite itself is quite painful.

A sting from a hornet can cause severe swelling.

The main danger is associated with a possible allergic reaction: a bitten person can get Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock - and even die if timely medical care is not provided to him. In addition, a hornet can sting several times, because, unlike a bee, it does not leave a sting in the victim's skin. Children and animals may suffer more because of the lower body weight, which, accordingly, the poison will have a stronger effect than the mass of an adult. Chinese poison and Japanese hornet especially strong and more often than others leads to the death of the victim. If the hornet has bitten you, take an antihistamine (Cetrin, Suprastin, Tavegil, or something similar in composition), and if it still gets worse, be sure to consult a doctor. The animal should apply something cold to the bite site, and if necessary, take it to the veterinarian. Hornets are especially dangerous for honeybees, destroying them and ruining the hives, so be on the lookout if you are a beekeeper.

What can be done with hornets?

First of all, I would like to advise you simply not to touch the hornets and not to touch their nests. But if they have made their dwellings too close to yours or even inside it, then it makes sense to get rid of dangerous insects. First of all, you need to find the source of danger - that is, the nest itself. An active fight should begin with the onset of darkness, when the activity of the hornets will noticeably decrease. It is necessary to treat the nest with special insecticides in accordance with the instructions on the package. However, first do not forget to take care of your safety: put on clothes that will protect you from possible bites, preferably thick, possibly canvas. It is especially important to protect your hands and face: thick rubber gloves and a hat with an anti-mosquito net will come in handy here. In addition, it would be advisable to wear a respirator so that the toxic substance does not enter your respiratory tract. If you are afraid not to cope with the hornets on your own or simply do not want to spend time on it, call a team of professionals - now many special firms are ready to save you both from dangerous insects and from the tedious struggle with them for a fee.

In principle, the interests of humans and hornets overlap little, so we can peacefully coexist with these insects. But if they went on the warpath with you or your bees, then you should take action and protect yourself, your pets and your home.

How do hornets winter - those giant wasps that bite so painfully? After all, these insects are those animals that are not able to maintain the high temperature of their body. According to the logic of the structure of the physical body, at sub-zero temperatures, insects should become a piece of ice.

However, every spring, the hornets fly out from somewhere, starting a vigorous activity in their feeding and reproduction of offspring. How do they manage to winter, where do they take shelter from the cold, and most importantly, why don’t they turn into this very piece of ice?

Who are they - hornets?

In biological taxonomy, there is a special genus, which is called hornets. He, in turn, is part of a family called real wasps. So hornets are not in vain so similar to wasps. These are their closest relatives, which do not differ much from the so-called paper wasps in terms of lifestyle, reproduction and mode of nutrition. Nevertheless, hornets still have their own biological and behavioral characteristics.

Usually these insects are one of the largest representatives of the wasp family, live in different biotopes and are not directly associated with human dwellings and agricultural lands.

What do these big wasps eat?

These insects can be called omnivores, but nevertheless, in their habits and predilections, they are, first of all, predators that feed mainly on other insects. However, their behavior is complex, their character is decisive, their habits are unusual. These smart, brave to the point of impudence insects do not disdain theft and robbery. By the way, they get food without using a sting. To do this, they have enough powerful jaws. A sting with poison exists for self-defense from large animals.

The hornet is the worst enemy of bees, capable of destroying an entire hive with a detachment of several individuals. After that, the robber eats and takes to his nest everything that he finds in the deserted dwelling.

Adults also feed on the fruits of some plants. They are very fond of the juice of berries, mainly raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes. Even more, they prefer to feast on sweet fruits, such as peaches, apricots, plums.

These insects are especially fond of overripe fruits and berries that begin to decompose. In addition, they flock to the corpses of recently dead animals, in whose bodies maceration has already begun, but the process of decay has not yet occurred.

Hornet and man

A hornet does not specifically touch a person, but it is not afraid either. He settles next to people, because it is more convenient to build nests here. And there is also a lot of food, because different insects always concentrate around a person. Moreover, human stocks are a source of food for the hornets themselves. For example, an adult under a person's nose can fly up to a piece of meat from which a cutlet is made, cut off a small piece for itself and fly away with prey in its jaws. Somewhere in the forest there is no such abundance of food.

However, living next to a person is dangerous. It is the only representative of mammals that deliberately destroy the nests of these predators.

Thus, for this large wasp, a person is a creature that:

• builds nest-friendly structures;
• concentrates around itself a lot of insects;
• grows delicious fruits and berries;
• keeps stocks of energy-rich food;
• breeds bees.

Hornets also play a controversial role in human life. They:

• bite painfully;
• destroy insects - agricultural pests;
• clean areas of rotting products;
• destroy the bees.

So for a person, hornets are such neighbors on the planet that both help and harm. If you do not breed bees, then these big wasps, settled next to a person's dwelling, are more useful than harmful. But beekeepers with hornets have their own scores.

How do these insects survive the winter?

Hornets are the same social insects as bees or ants, in which the nest is the basis of the well-being of the species.

Hornet dwellings are structures made of paper, which they make from young tree bark.

The nest is a round structure with honeycombs inside. This ball is hung somewhere in a secluded place. Its purpose is to place eggs in paper combs, and then feed the larvae there.

Insects are creatures that usually do not like to migrate far. Moreover, most of these species do not migrate at all. They prefer to live where they were born. Any mass movement of grasshoppers, called locusts, moths and other arthropods is rather an exception to the rule. So if an insect lives where there are harsh winters, then it is adapted to survive them.

The whole rhythm of the existence of hornets in harsh conditions temperate climate similar to the rhythm of life of bees and ants. To survive and produce offspring every year, you need to sacrifice something or someone.

Ants and bees sacrifice males, which die quickly after mating. This is done in order not to waste resources on already useless individuals. In hornets, females are the main ones. It is they who survive the winter, and then become the ancestors of a new generation.

The young female leaves the parental nest by the end of the warm period of the year, that is, at the end of August or at the beginning of September. At this time, the nest can reach sizes in diameter of more than half a meter, and in length even - about a meter.

During the period of the maximum number of sexually mature individuals, they all leave the nest, swarm and mate. This phenomenon may seem strange, because mating occurs before the onset of cold weather. However, this is precisely the logic of a successful wintering and further reproduction of offspring.

Soon after mating, the males die, and the females begin to lead a free and solitary lifestyle. They feed heavily, and in between looking for food, they look for a secluded place for winter shelter.

The wintering place should be such that the pregnant female (namely, in this form they sleep), falling into suspended animation, is completely safe. Enemies, the cold wind, and most importantly, people should not find it. Hollows, cracks in rocks, various small cavities on the outside of human dwellings, unheated buildings, shelters under stones, fallen trunks, etc. are suitable for this.

Inside human houses, none of the hibernating insects hides. The fact is that when cold weather sets in, when the temperature drops below 0 ° C, the water in the insects should freeze. However, this does not happen, because in the body of these creatures, water is replaced by glycerin, which inhibits all life processes, but most importantly, it does not turn into ice and does not break cell walls.

If such an insect warms up at the wrong time, it will die with the onset of new cold weather. When wintering in a warm room, the female hornet should, after some time, that is, in the middle of winter, begin to build her paper house in order to lay her eggs.

Even if she manages to hide somewhere in the secluded corners of a heated house from human eyes, it will be difficult for her to find material for building combs, and she will not be able to provide her offspring with enough food.

So a normal female hornet endures all the hardships frosty winter in suspended animation, hiding from evil winds and other additional troubles.

In the spring, when a stable daily positive temperature sets in, the female wakes up and begins flying around the territory. In the spring she needs:

• find food to enable embryos to develop into full-fledged eggs;
• find a suitable place to build a nest;
• build the first honeycombs;
• lay the first eggs;
• feed the first children.

Working hornets emerge from the first eggs, which will do everything themselves - complete the house, feed the larvae. Among the eggs laid later, females and males are already appearing. And everything starts over.

So, having met a hornet in early spring, know that this is a female who is looking for a place for a new nest. If she is not threatening you (and she has no time to threaten anyone now), do not touch her. Let him reproduce a new offspring of hunters, gatherers and lovers of sweets. Beekeepers, of course, should not give such advice.

The fact is that hornets are large, mostly predatory insects. By all the rules of the ecosystem, there are not many such organisms. There is usually not enough food to ensure a large number of predators. And this rule applies even to the most successful beings. And then there's a man chasing hornets for any reason, and more often without it. However, people tend to consider fear as a well-founded reason for destroying someone.

Hornets perform a great ecological function - they hold back the number of many arthropods. The killing of pregnant females in early spring and the destruction of nests greatly reduces the number of these giant wasps. In addition, the use of pesticides, which act especially strongly on predatory insects, also contributes to the reduction in the number of hornets.

Meanwhile, in some places, the number of hornets has decreased so much that they are included in the Red Books. This once again proves the fact that predators are always very vulnerable, and a person can destroy any species, even the most common and well adapted to different conditions.