Hornets - PEST UK

Providing pest control services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Midlands, West Sussex, Wiltshire. Est. 1985.

Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hornets

Frequently asked questions about hornets:

The main and only factor that makes hornets so dangerous is their sting. Although, the likelihood of getting stung by a hornet is small when they do it can be fatal.

Hornets offer important benefits in their local ecosystem by controlling other insect pests, and pollinating flowers as they travel from plant to plant.

The UK is home to one native hornet: the European hornet.

The stings of the Asian giant hornet are among the most venomous known however are rarely found in the UK.

Hornets have similar life cycles to wasps – their workers and males die in the autumn or winter, and only fertile queens will survive. The new queens hibernate over winter to start new nests in the spring.

Worker hornets are active at night. They are attracted to lights and they may startle homeowners by flying into windows where lights are visible.

Hornets will only sting if they feel they or their nest is threatened.

Hornets do not die after they sting and can sting multiple times.

Hornet venom will cause pain, swelling, redness and itching at the site of the sting. Seek medical help if you have a bad reaction to a hornet sting as they can cause fatalities in some people.

Queen hornets are much larger than normal hornets and usually only appear outside in the spring to build nests and gather food for their grubs.