European Hornets are one of the only “real” hornets we have in the United States. They are large, intimidating and can sting. When nests are located close to your home the chance of conflict is heightened; when nests are located in the home the chance of conflict is inevitable. This article will detail some basic biology of this insect and then offer methods on how you can control local infestations.
In case this is not what you’re looking for, we also have in depth articles on: CICADA KILLERS DIGGER WASPS MUD DAUBERS WASPS YELLOW JACKETS
EUROPEAN HORNET BIOLOGY
European Hornets, like other European Species of insects, made their way over to North America on trade ships and other vessels. Once in the America’s most of these insects found a world where they could easily thrive. European Hornets were first noted in the early 1800’s, in the northeastern region of the United States. Now they can be found in most every state east of the Mississippi and most states out west as well.
European hornets look very much like Cicada Killers though they are more closely related to Yellow Jackets. European hornets are large – commonly found 1.5 to 2.0 inches long – and can fly quickly. It is hard to tell them apart from cicada killers and only a trained eye can do so easily. However, this is where the similarities end.
Unlike cicada killers which are solitary and prey mostly on cicada’s, European Hornets will prey on many types of insects, both alive and dead, and are attracted to most anything sweet or protein based.
European hornets will readily eat fruit and honeydew (tree and plant sap). This characteristic is why they are more like yellow jackets; furthermore, their nests are generally large and contain hundreds if not thousands of occupants just like yellow jackets.
Nests start in the spring when females lay eggs which hatch in a few weeks. This first generation goes to work immediately building a nest as the queen does nothing but lay eggs. By late July and August the nest will be built and most attention at that time will be spent accumulating food.
WHERE DO EUROPEAN HORNETS NEST?
Nests can be located anywhere. Common locations include tree nooks and hollows, under the siding of houses and in attics or crawl spaces. They typically like to find a space which will provide protection from the sun and rain. This space should be able to fit a football to medicine ball sized paper nest. Though the nest is constructed of this material which looks much like a paper wasp or bald faced hornet nest, European Hornets don’t like to have any of it exposed. They prefer the body of the nest to be hidden inside the void or cavity where they chose to construct it. For this reason nests will commonly be constructed inside the nook of a tree.
European Hornets will travel great distances for food. As their nest grows through the summer, so to do the occupants. Once eggs hatch, worker and scout hornets will forage for insect prey, carrion and sweet food like honeydew. Unlike most predatory wasps which are solitary, European Hornets will hunt in groups. They may identify a target insect they want which is bountiful and focus on it for a day or two harvesting as much of it as they can get.
Prey is brought back to the nest and either consumed or stored for developing young. To satisfy the need for sweet nutrients, they may target well ripened fruit or honeydew. Unlike yellow jackets or ants which can harvest honeydew from plants, European Hornets require big quantities and will go to great lengths to find a good supply. Like yellow jackets, they can “chew” through wood quite easily and will use this ability to strip bark from trees in an effort to harvest sap. This is called “girdling” and can kill targeted trees or shrubs.
WHAT PROBLEMS DO EUROPEAN HORNETS CAUSE?
European hornets become a problem around the home when their presence is noticed. If you see them on your property, there is either a nest close by or they are coming to feed on something local in the yard. So the first problem they present is the possibility of getting stung. The next problem they present is the damage they will do when they target fruit in the garden or tree. Lastly, if they target a tree to girdle, the tree can easily succumb to the loss of sap and die. For this reason its generally important to figure out why they’re foraging around your yard so you can take corrective action if needed.
HOW CAN YOU CAN YOU CONTROL LOCAL EUROPEAN HORNETS?
There are many ways to control European Hornets. The key is using the right method based on why they’re a problem. Options include using a gel bait, a non-repellent spray, a non repellent aerosol, a contact killing spray and a contact killing aerosol.
HOW TO STOP EUROPEAN HORNETS FROM TREE GIRDLING
Tree girdling is the damage done when hornets tear away the bark of a tree or shrub to gain access to sap and honeydew. This behavior may look innocent but eventually can lead to tree or shrub death. Since the sap seems to be sweeter in trees or bushes which produce lovely flowers, expect flowering plants to be a prime target.
The following “short video” (less than 60 seconds long) shows a Bald Faced Hornet Girdling.
If you’re seeing this behavior on your deck, trees, home, etc., the Gel below can be tried but the Bithor is usually the best option.
Lilac and rose bushes are favorites and once they are tapped expect more hornets to focus in on the available sap. This can lead to plant damage – especially during the warm season – if the plant is already under stress. The cuts in bark or stems will cause the plant to “bleed” sap which the hornets will readily harvest. It is not uncommon to see several hornets landing at one time to feed.
EUROPEAN HORNET BAIT
If you find girdling with active European hornets harvesting the honey dew, there is a HONEYDEW ANT GEL BAIT that can be applied to trees hornets like to eat. Simply apply small amounts of the gel over the damaged areas or where you see hornets landing and resting. It doesn’t take much; they will suck it up and bring it back to the nest.
In a few days the product will to work it’s way into the nest. This happens as the gel is digested and defecated. The initial gel is designed to protect the active but once the gel is digested, this protection is chemically broken down. And once defecated, the droppings will have exposed chemical which will in turn start to kill all members of the nest.
SPECIAL NOTE: This option will ONLY WORK if the hornets are actively girdling a tree or deck OR if you are finding them landing on a specific tree, what we call a “gathering point”. Placing bait out alongside their nest WILL NOT WORK nor will it work for hornets flying around lights or randomly seen in the yard.
RECENT CUSTOMER REVIEW FOR THE GEL BAIT
NON REPELLENT SPRAY FOR TREATING TREES OR BUSHES BEING GIRDLED
If the hornets are damaging or feeding on a tree when girdling or using it for a staging site, they’ll be active on all parts of the tree throughout the day. This can present a danger to people and pets and in general, should be treated using a non repellent spray like BITHOR.
This active is mixed with water and can be sprayed on any surface without target insects knowing a chemical was applied. They’ll readily walk over the treatment and in turn, pick up the active and bring it back to their nest.
Bithor is super safe for use in and around the home and has labeling that allows for it to be sprayed on rugs and carpets where pets and children will be active. In the yard, Bithor is labeled for use as both a foliage spray and systemic for a wide range of insect pests so it can protect any treated plant safely.
The following video talks about how safe Bithor is to use in or around your home.
After 2-3 days of cross contaminating the members of the colony, the Bithor will kick in and either cause the nest to die or force them to go elsewhere because they’ll recognize the home as a danger to them.
Mix 1 oz per gallon of water per 500 sq/ft and spray the siding in the evening, right before dark every evening until the activity stops. In general, it will take 2-3 treatments.
HOW TO STOP EUROPEAN HORNETS FROM FLYING AROUND PORCH LIGHTS
Most European hornets will send out scouts at night looking for food. These scouts will commonly be attracted to lights which means they might come around a deck or porch which has a light burning when its dark. In some cases they’ll be attracted to lights inside the home and when this happens, they might start flying into windows over and over making a lot of noise and in some cases, damage.
To stop this behavior, you can install a FLYING INSECT LIGHT TRAP. Unlike traditional “zappers”, this trap uses a spinning “fan” of wire that will cut up any pest which comes to close to the light.
The following video shows how it works:
To use this trap effectively, you’ll need to turn off all the outside lights where you have the most activity. Hang the Light Trap up at least 6 feet off the ground, plug it in and let it get to work. The trap includes a photo light sensor so it will only power on when its dark out.
European hornets targeting the light will fly up to it and get ripped apart instantly. The nest will probably send some more but after 1-2 weeks, they will stop. Use the light trap to control moths and other night time pests as its very effective and requires very little energy to run.
NON REPELLENT SPRAY FOR EUROPEAN HORNETS LANDING OR NESTING ON THE HOME
If the hornets are landing all over the home as a staging area or to girdle, you’ll need our non repelling BITHOR to effectively stop this behavior. As explained above, this active doesn’t kill the target pests on contact or repel them. Instead, Bithor is transferred to the target pest and then “shared” with other members of their colony in the days following it’s contact with the treated surface.
Bithor is super safe for use in and around the home and has labeling that allows for it to be sprayed on rugs and carpets where pets and children will be active. In the yard, Bithor is labeled for use as both a foliage spray and systemic for a wide range of insect pests so it can protect any treated plant safely.
The following video talks about how safe Bithor is to use in or around your home and why its a great choice for exterior sprays to both control and prevent insect pests.
After 2-3 days of cross contaminating the members of the colony, the Bithor will kick in and either cause the nest to die or force them to go elsewhere because they’ll recognize the home as a danger to them.
Mix 1 oz per gallon of water per 500 sq/ft and spray the siding in the evening, right before dark every evening until the activity stops. In general, it will take 2-3 treatments.
HOW TO TREAT HORNET NESTS IN A TREE WHERE THE ENTRANCE IS EASY TO REACH
For nests which are easy to see and reach within 10 feet, a good treatment with HORNET FREEZE should knock it down. This formulation is much stronger then any store bought type and will quickly kill them as they get hit. Use at least 1/2 can and let the treatment sit for 30 minutes to see if you got them all. In most cases, it will take the remainder of the can and many times a second can but as long as you can get the material directly into their nest, it will kill it quickly.
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Barry says
European hornets have eaten most of the apples on our tree for the last few years. No nest in sight. Is there a preventative spray that can be applied to the fruit before it ripens? Or would you recommend the honeydew bait?
This time of year “our pest of choice” is the large black and yellow boring bees. They are destroying the back side of the facia on the sunny side of the house. The peak is about 25 ft high and I’m no longer a climber. Is there a bait for these guys or what would you suggest? Thanks.
Tech Support says
For fruit trees and vegetables, the Veg Plus is the easiest product to use and should do the job. We’ve had customers use it for predatory wasps and ants so it should work on hornets. Basically the product is mixed with water and applied to foliage and it will repel them for a short while. The amount needed will depend on the size of the tree canopy. Review the specimen label for exact mixtures and quantities that will be needed.
Vegetables Plus Perm: https://bugspray.com/insecticide/liquid/veg-plus-10-perm
As for the “yellow boring bees”; you’ll be best served by dusting any holes with Demise and then surface spray the siding with Bithor.
Demize Dust: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/dust/drione-demise-dust-6-oz
Crusader Duster: https://bugspray.com/equipment/dusters/crusader
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
beekeeper says
I am a honeybee bee keeper. I just recently discovered a very large yellow and red hornets nest about 40 yards from my bee hives. What should I do?
Tech Support says
If you want the nest gone, I recommend treating it with the Demise Dust listed above. Since you most likely already have a Bee Suit, you’ll be able to fully protect yourself without having to purchase extra equipment. This is important when dealing with most species of wasps and hornets and if in fact you have European Hornets, a must have.
Once suited up and Demise in hand, it’s just a matter of getting close to the nest to treat. Demise works quickly and there is no reason why you can’t kill it with one treatment.
Demize Dust: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/dust/drione-demise-dust-6-oz
Steve says
I have two lilac bushes and some rose bushes near my house which is surrounded by trees. I can’t seem to find the nest, but see countless numbers of European Hornets on the lilac and at night swarming the light outside my basement door. At one time I have seen up to an estimated thirty or so hornets at one time on the lilac. Tonight alone, I have killed five or six swarming the light outside my basement door.
Seeing as I cannot find the hive, would you suggest the Honeydew Gel on the lilac where I have seen the girdling, boards around my light, and the 112 volt trap set up near the lilac at night?
I have a small child and due to the sheer amount of hornets I can see on the lilac at one time, I’m a little concerned with my daughter playing in the yard at times, even supervised by my wife.
Are there any other suggestions you might have on how to irradiate or cut down the population in my area?
Thanks in advance.
Tech Support says
The gel and light trap mentioned above would be viable options. But we also have a highly effective spray method that might prove easier to employ and is definitely worth considering. This method uses a slow acting chemical that kicks into action after a few days of the target insect touching the treated surface. It’s highly effective on insects that live in colonies like termites, ants, whiteflies, etc.
In fact Prothor was first created for use on termites but since then it’s use has been expanded to include target sites like trees and bushes. And once it started being used on bushes and trees, we were able to see it can be used to control any pest that lives in large communities including hornets.
So if you want to spray, Prothor would be the way to go. Basically all you’d need to do is thoroughly soak the lilac and rose bushes with the Prothor. I also suggest spraying the light fixture and a large area of siding behind the light. This way you’ll get any hornets active at this location too. Don’t be shy in your application meaning that you need to cover as much of these plants as possible. For that to happen, you’ll probably need to pump a good 1-2 gallons. And you should treat every 2 weeks until the problem is gone but my guess is you’ll start to see them disappearing within 1-2 days of the treatment and by 7 days, most if not all of the activity will be stopped.
Prothor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/prothor-sc
Eliminator: https://bugspray.com/equipment/sprayers/eliminator-gallon-sprayer
Now Prothor can also be applied as a soil drench and I suggest you apply some next spring to any plant you have the hornets have targeted. This way if they come around again you’ll have in place a treatment which will take care of them before it gets out of hand like it sounds like has happened this year. Good luck!
Barb says
Help!! I have a ton of them and guess will have to get rid of my lilac bushes (they are all over them). I have dogs and can’t leave the outside light on too long or they show up. Its been 2 yrs now and can’t find the nest. Guess I need the heavy duty bug zapper!! Read that they fly for miles to find the light?? help~~
Tech Support says
No need to get rid of the Lilac bushes. To control these guys, go with a product we have called Bithor. This material can be sprayed on the home as well as any plant so treat all locations where you see them active.
Bithor is unique in that it won’t be detectable by ants, roaches, wasps, hornets, etc. so following the treatment they’ll continue to forage on the plant as if you didn’t even spray it. But that’s what you want to happen.
Now after 3-4 days of walking on it, the active will have been shared and spread. This means any member of the colony which came in contact with the material will die. So as the Bithor is transferred from hornet to hornet it means you’ll be able to kill the nest without having to know where it’s located.
We recommend you spray the home where they’ve been landing (most likely around any patio lights) and then on any plants in the yard like the lilacs. Give it a good 4-7 days and you should be free from this pest for good.
Here is a link to this item in our cart. Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and be here to answer your questions and keep this valuable web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
Rachel says
I have European hornets and flying squirrels in the same tree. The hornets have a giant nest filled with larvae. I wanted to seal the hole in the tree with screen and trap the bees so they would die. I do not want to hurt the squirrels – there is a whole family of them. How can I keep the squirrels safe and kill the hornets?
Tech Support says
Put on one of the Bee Suits listed above and treat the nest with either the Demise or the FS MP Aeosol. The Demise will surely get them and be more thorough meaning there will be little chance of the nest surviving the initial application. The FS MP will be tougher to get a thorough job done but it too could work if you’re thorough and patient. Expect to do a followup or two if you go with the FS MP.
Demize Dust: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/dust/drione-demise-dust-6-oz
Hand Duster: https://bugspray.com/equipment/dusters/crusader
FS MP: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/aerosol/fs-mp-insecticide-15-oz-aerosol
Lastly, neither treatment will pose any hazard to the squirrels, the tree or any other life in the area as long as you only treat the nest.
Susan says
How do we locate their nests??
Tech Support says
As explained above, locating their nests can sometimes be tough. In most cases, treatments for European Hornets are done without the nest location being known. And fortunately, the liquid sprays like the Cypermethrin and Bithor will prove effective in cases like this.
Finding Nests: https://bugspray.com/article/eurohornet.html#finding-european-hornet-nests-is-hard-to-do
Liquid Sprays: https://bugspray.com/article/eurohornet.html#european-hornet-spray
LaRee says
I have them in my house every spring. It seems worse this year. We have looked everywhere for their nest but no luck. What would you suggest we use?
Tech Support says
If they’re inside the house, they must be coming and going through the siding, around a facia board, maybe an attic vent, etc. There are too many entry points for me to list them all.
So if you wish to stop them from entering, you’ll need to spend some time on the outside of your home watching and looking to see where they’re active. This can take an hour or two of close inspection but on any given hot day, it should be pretty easy to locate such activity.
Now once you find any areas where they’re coming and going, spraying the surfaces with either Cypermethrin or Bithor will take care of the problem. Both these products can be read about above, in our article, but here are direct links to them in our shopping cart:
Cypermethrin: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/viper-cypermethrin
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
On a side note, I feel I should mention that European Hornets don’t over winter (hibernate) like the most common wasps found around the home. For example, we have many people who report seeing golden wasps in their home. These people will typically have such activity late winter through early spring and this is because this particular species of wasp overwinters on homes.
And as spring approaches and these wasps become active with the warming temps, they will many times forage into living spaces by mistake. So if these are the wasps you’re seeing (which is very different from European Hornets), you’ll need to treat attic spaces and wall voids where they like to nest. More information can be found in our Wasp Control article here:
Wasp Control: http://www.wasps.net/wasp-and-hornet-control
Kristin says
I believe we have European hornets living in the wood siding of our home. What I’m worried about is its an old building and when I spray they will go through and into our home…
Tech Support says
Your concern is warranted. In general, its never a good idea to treat for bees, wasps or hornets from the outside of the home when they’re living up under siding. The only exception to this carpenter bees.
But with hornets, traditional insecticides might be able to kill them on contact but that won’t solve the problem. That’s because unless you’re able to reach the entire nest with the spray (which is usually not possible), the surviving hornets will move away from the treatment. In the end, the survivors will be forced deep into the wall void and in many cases end up coming out inside the home. Suffice to say this is bad and should be avoided.
So how can you treat when you have hornets nesting under your homes siding? There are two preferred methods that can handle the problem safely and effectively.
The first is to consider treating from inside the home. So if the nest is adjacent to a window or a wall of a room inside the home where you can pinpoint the nests center, you can drill small access holes from inside and then inject Demise Dust into the drilled holes. Demise is light and “smokey” and will penetrate way beyond where you apply it. This means you should be able to get the entire nest by treating from the “inside out” – even if you’re not exactly sure where the nest is located.
The second option is to use a relatively new product known as Bithor . This product uses an active which is very different from traditional insecticides. The first difference is that it won’t do anything when first sprayed. It’s essentially odorless and since it takes several days to work, targeted insects won’t be afraid of it or even noticed it’s been sprayed. Basically its like water to them.
But after a few days of being applied, the active will begin to take effect. This will result in killing the insects that have touched the treated surface as well as any insects that have been infected by the transfer of the active. So if you spray the entrance area heavy to the point of runoff, the hornets that move in and out of the nest will pick up small amounts of the product throughout the day. And when they go inside the nest, they’ll be sharing this contamination with other members of the colony. So when the active finally kicks in a few days later, all the hornets that have the active on it will die.
To insure you get the best coverage as possible, you should spray the nest every evening after dark. First make sure you have turned off all the exterior lighting around the home. Since these hornets like light, it’s best to keep the nest area as dark as possible so they want to stay inside huddled up. Next, spray a good 16-32 oz of mixed material onto the nest and the surrounding surfaces. This way no matter how many entrance/exit holes they have, you’ll have some Bithor in place to intercept the hornets traveling over the treatment.
Lastly, apply spray every other evening for a week. All told, it will usually take 3-4 treatments during the course of a week before the nest is completely dead. But in the end, it will prove to be every effective, safe and easy to do compared to dusting from the inside of the home – especially if you’re not sure where the nest is located.
Here are links to these items in our cart. Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and be here to answer your questions and keep this valuable web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Demize Dust: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/dust/drione-demise-dust-6-oz
Hand Duster: https://bugspray.com/equipment/dusters/crusader
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
Eliminator Pump Sprayer: https://bugspray.com/equipment/sprayers/eliminator-gallon-sprayer
Barry Hasson says
I have killed three European hornets in my basement while working there in the evenings. Usually one per night. I figure there must be a nest somewhere, but I don’t know where it is. I am gonna look around tonight to see if I can find the source. What else should I do? Would an exterminator be able to locate the nest?
Tech Support says
As explained in our article, European Hornets will many times travel great distances to “find light”. And if this light source is an exterior lamp you burn on a deck, porch or soffit area (aka: flood light), its only a matter of time before some make their way into living spaces because every home has lots of cracks and crevices making them vulnerable to insect invasion. Especially flying insects.
So even though you are seeing some inside, its not likely there is a nest on the home or even on your property. I say this because in 9 of 10 problems we help our customers solve, its rare that any have a nest anywhere near their home.
That means its no easy to task to find the nest unless you can scour the surrounding acreage (whether you’re a pest control service employee or homeowner). And if you’re content on finding it, you’ll need to cover at least 10 acres so be prepared to spend some time searching (thats even if you have access to all the potential land they might be using for a nest site).
In summary, the best way to handle this type of problem is to first see if they are coming to an exterior lamp on your home. To find out, simply monitor any exterior lamps you burn once it gets dark and see if any hornets come around once it gets dark. They will be easy to notice; they’re quite large and will fly around the light over and over eventually landing on surfaces around the base of the lamp.
And if you are able to discover activity, you can choose to keep all exterior lights off to avoid the problem from developing.
Alternatively you can install one of our Light Traps. This device will kill curious hornets (and any other flying insect pest) that comes around and in doing so, it will eliminate the local population foraging on your property and keep them out of your home.
110V Light Trap: https://bugspray.com/traps/electric/flying-insect-trap-110-volt
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
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Julie Wells says
We live in the woods with no way of actually eradicating these wasps. Late in the summer they are a problem by getting in the house easily via the opening/closing of doors at night but now we have a baby/toddler and I’m worried of course. An exterminating company identified them as this type of hornet but did not find them in the house last year, thank goodness. My husband killed about 50 of them with his hands last summer but I don’t think I can deal with any getting in the house this summer. After reading up on them I now see where they are eating all the trees around our house. Saw one actually doing just that within minutes of looking around. Looks like a big problem here for a long time and they are already a problem in the daytime around our doors. There are too many trees with the right environment for them. How close can a nest be from the food source? Can I treat the area around our house as a control method? These things seem dumb and annoying but I don’t want my daughter getting stung.
Tech Support says
European hornet nests can be far removed from where you see them. In fact they will routinely forage many acres so they could be 5-10 acres off your property no problem and in many cases, 10-20 acres away.
We also know they like to follow consistent flight paths to forage and if your home is on such a route, its likely you’ll have more and more active on and around your home until you do something to stop the invasion.
The good news is that there are treatment options which can stop the activity.
The first would be to spray any tree where you see them active or where they are girdling. Use the Bithor concentrate and spray any surface once a month throughout the active time of year.
Second, install a Light Trap off a deck or patio where you suspect they might be active. These traps will kill foraging scouts as they find your home and in the process, reduce the amount coming around. Its best to keep any outside lamps “off” at night for the first 1-2 weeks after installing a Light Trap. This way the hornets will tend to see nothing but the light trap and obviously once they go to it, they’ll meet a quick demise. After two weeks, you can go back to the normal burning of outside lamps.
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
110V Light Trap: https://bugspray.com/traps/electric/flying-insect-trap-110-volt
Give us a call if you need more help. Our toll free is 1-800-877-7290 and we’re open 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mon-Thur; 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Friday and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday, Eastern Standard Time.
Jonathan
Customer Care
https://bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
PS: Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and be here to answer your questions and keep our web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Steve says
I have read that it is risky to kill European hornets you see flying near your home or resting on a branch as it will release an alarm/attack pheromone that signals a nearby nest to swarm. Do you know if this is true ?
Tech Support says
Many species of wasps, bees and hornets have a “swarm” scent that can be used for this purpose and though the effective range for different species is no doubt variable, the end result is uniform. So to answer your question; they definitely can send out signals to swarm if provoked.
Steve says
@Tech Support: I forgot to include a “thank you” in advance when posting my original question. So thank you very much for your quick and helpful reply!
Marian says
We have what I think are European hornets circling an area in our yard where there used to be an ash tree. The tree was cut down and the stump ground out but the soil in that area and the grass tend to stay very dry by July/August. Lately, we have anywhere from two to a dozen hornets hanging around that area and a nearby flower bed with nepeta in full bloom. So far we have not found a nest. Will watering a lot in that area help keep them away? I am concerned that we or our neighbors may make the wrong move and get stung.
Tech Support says
Marian,
If what you’re seeing are in fact European hornets, they would either have an active nest easily visible or they would be actively landing on some of the plants in your flower bed. So at this point, you need to sit and watch both areas carefully to see if there are any kind of ground nests or if they landing on any specific plants.
Now are you suer they’re European hornets? I ask because in general, European hornets don’t nest in the ground. But Cicada Killers do. And since Cicada Killers look a lot like European hornets, the two are easily confused with one another.
Additionally, Cicada Killers are very active right now so its quite possible this is what you’re seeing. So for now, I suggest you review our article on cicada killers so you can learn how to control them should it turn out to be this species.
Cicada Killers: https://bugspray.com/articles99/cicadakillers
Next, look for any ground nests around or in your flower beds. Cicada killers definitely love nesting in such areas and I would bet this is why you’re seeing them there (or any other species since many types of bees and wasps love nesting in flower beds).
Now since European hornets will readily feed on plants or worse yet “girdle” the bark of trees or bushes, watch to see if they’re landing on any specific plant. If they are, treat those plants with Bithor. This chemical uses a slow working active that will take care of the problem in 1-2 weeks. Here’s how..
Basically as targeted pests land on treated surfaces, some of the chemical will transfer onto them. Now when they fly back to their nest, they will “share” the chemical with other members of their colony and after a week or two, kill the nest regardless of what species they turn out to be. For this reason, Bithor is a great product for controlling pests when you don’t know where the nest is located.
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
Lastly, watering any of these areas won’t do a thing. If anything, it would help developing young or help nourish the food growing that these wasps/hornets might be harvesting. So for sure, don’t do any watering above or beyond what you might normally do in the yard.
Give us a call if you need more help. Our toll free is 1-800-877-7290 and we’re open 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mon-Thur; 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Friday and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday, Eastern Standard Time.
Jonathan
Customer Care
https://bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
PS: Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and be here to answer your questions and keep our web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Mark and Emerald says
My husband was stung this week in the head by a European Hornet. He was working around a big tree in our yard and one got him. He killed it and we kept it to find out what it was. After reading your website about their nesting in crooks of trees, we went back out to look at the tree and lo and behold we believe it to be the nest. It looks exactly like the picture shown above. Now this tree and others on our land secrete sap so we are unsure of the nest but there are many coming and going all hours of day from that crook/crack/crevice of that particular tree. Do you think we should treat the area assuming there is a nest? Or should we treat everything to be sure of killing these things?
Tech Support says
Since its unclear where the exact location of the nest might be, it would be beset to saturate the area with Bithor. This product takes a good 3-5 days to “kick in” and affect insects so you won’t see results for awhile.
But this is very much by design. The concept is to get some of the chemical on some of the active members of the nest so they can “share” it with other members. Now to do this, the chemical must work slowly and that’s why there is this delay.
But if you treat with Bithor where they’re landing, and if you renew the treatment daily, just after dark, you’ll be sure to kill any nest associated with the hornets you see using the area within a week.
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Paul says
We have those European Hornets/Wasps flying around our front door. We have NO idea where they are nesting. They are increasing in numbers and the foam spray just kills whoever shows up in the evening. Is there a spray/bait/food I can place on the ledge below my transom window or around the light that will kill them off? Does it have to be wet? Can it dry and still be effective? Is it safe on vinyl siding? Thank you!
Tech Support says
Paul,
You have a few options that can resolve this problem.
The easiest would be to install one of the Light Traps shown above. This device will lure hornets to it and then as they attempt to land on the light bulbs, the spinning “weed whacker” mechanism will kill them.
110V Light Trap: https://bugspray.com/traps/electric/flying-insect-trap-110-volt
The next option is to use a slow working chemical that can be “transferred” to the nest via the workers you see landing on your home. Basically this option is not acutely toxic like the wasp freeze you’ve been using. Instead, this active relies on a “stealthy” mode of action which will take several days to complete.
To use this approach, you’ll need to spray all the areas where you see them buzzing and touching. And you’ll want to treat these areas daily, just after dinner but before dark, to keep the chemical fresh. Now following the treatment that evening, any hornets that come around will unknowingly be picking up the active as they land on the areas you sprayed. And when they land or touch these areas, they’ll be picking up some chemical which they will then carry back to their nest.
Now once they bring the chemical back to their nest, they will transfer it to other members of the colony as they go through their regular day to day activities. This happens naturally when they touch one another to communicate, etc.
And over the course of 2-3 days, most every member will get some of the active onto their skin so effectively, every member of the nest will get some level of “exposure”.
Now after 3-5 days of the first exposure, the active will “kick in” and when it does, it will start killing each member that has received a transfer. In the end, any hornets which survivor this initial impact won’t be able to resurrect the nest so it will effectively shut down.
So if you’re interested in using this approach, this comes in a concentrate form.
It mixes easily with water and a mixed gallon will cover up to 500 sq/ft. You’ll want to renew the treatment everyday until they stop coming around.
Prothor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/prothor-sc
Give us a call if you need more help. Our toll free is 1-800-877-7290 and we’re open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Mon-Friday and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday, Eastern Standard Time.
Jonathan
Customer Care
https://bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
PS: Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and be here to answer your questions and keep our web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Ewelina says
Hi there, which is better? Prothor or Bihor? We have a few wild rose bushes and a very large lilac bush in the front of our house. We just started to see the European hornets last fall and they’re back nice and early this spring. They’ve never been ‘threatening’ to us but I’m worried about leaving my dog outside alone with them. We also have 2 cherry trees and 3 apple trees – they were also going after the fruit. Is either of the 2 products OK to use on fruit trees (food that will be consumed)? Since we don’t know where the nest is, which should we use? Thank you!!
Tech Support says
Ewelina
I recommend either; watch the videos on their respective pages for more insight on how each works. Apply the Bithor to any of the bark and foliage of the non edible trees they target.
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
Prothor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/prothor-sc
Unfortunately neither are labeled for use on trees producing edible harvests. For them you’ll need to use the repelling vegetables plus. It won’t last long but can help.
Vegetables Plus Perm: https://bugspray.com/insecticide/liquid/veg-plus-10-perm
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Mike says
Will the European Hornet nest be dormant during the winter or first frost?
Tech Support says
Mike,
In general, most nests will become “quiet” as temperatures drop below 40 degrees. But if it rises back up to 50+ during the day, they’ll probably come back out and continue like normal until you get a good cold lasting a week or with temps staying in the forties or less.
What’s more important about this hornet is that they typically reuse nest sites from year and year and certainly their flight paths. So if you have a shrub or tree they’ve been using to stage daily activity, it will probably be used again next year until the associated nest is destroyed.
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Susan C. says
Is Bithor safe to use on edible fruit trees? Last year those pests ate all the apples off our pear tree and apple tree. We couldn’t even get near the trees due to the activity. Thank you for this article. It provided me with a great deal of information about these “Bell” hornets as we call them.
Tech Support says
Susan,
It probably would not be a problem to use it but since the label does not list such usage, I’d refrain from treating the fruits directly. Now what you can do is spray the bark of the tree before the fruit develops and any that try to use the trees as a “landing pad” would be affected. Another way of dealing with them is to set out some cut up applies, pears or even apple sauce. If you find them attracted to it, you can then mix up a “bait” using the Bithor. We have “tamperproof” bait stations you can mount on the trees and essentially “feed” them the bait before your real fruit blossoms. This will kill them off before your harvest ripens. The first key to getting this to work is to make the offering out in the open, to see if they take the fruit without the added Bithor. If they do, you’ll have success because they won’t know the difference between the pure and treated bait.
Here is a link to the bait stations. We sell these for yellowjacket baiting. Super safe, reuseable, they protect the bait from rain/sun and will work on any feeding wasp or ant. Mount these on the side of the trees or home so invasive animals won’t steal the bait.
Insect Bait Station: http://bugspray.com/equipment/insect-bait-station.html
Technical Support
800-877-7290
Alyssa says
I am fairly certain we have European Hornets. For the past 2 years we find one or two a day in our bedroom on the first floor of home. We have been able to kill the ones that have been found each day but obviously there is a bigger issue since they are still continuing to get in some how. So far it has only been our bedroom but I am concerned they may find their way into other parts of my home and I would like to be able to use my bedroom with out fear of these little demons. What would you recommend we do? I have no idea where the actual nest is or how the are getting inside my home.
Tech Support says
Alyssa,
This is a tough one. In most cases, people have a specific location where the hornets are active so one of our treatments above will do the job. Given the amount you’re seeing, its clear they have some kind of interest in your home and most likely a nest.
Now if you were to go outside and watch the sides of the home where this bedroom is located, chances are good you’ll spot where they’re coming and going. Do this late morning, afternoons and especially around dark when they’re most active.
If you can find that spot, treating the entrance (crack or gaps where they’re entering) with a mixture of Prothor for 15-20 seconds every morning before they “get up” will take care of the problem. Prothor won’t spook them as its not detectable by insects. Over the days following your treatments, they’ll be picking it up, sharing it with others and eventually killing themselves. But you need to keep treating every day for 30 seconds to ensure the treatment is “strong” and doesn’t fade away. After 5 days of treating, let it sit and see if they keep coming. If not, you did the job. But if they keep coming, you’ll probably need to go do more spraying but with a liquid (see below).
Prothor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/prothor-sc
Now if limited treatments with Prothor doesn’t do the job or if you can’t find the “main spot”, you’ll need to spray the whole side of the home, actually at least 2 sides, using 4-6 gallons..
Technical Support
http://www.bugspray.com
Michael Re says
I have a maple tree where the European Hornets are leaving cocoons in the bark of the tree. I see various beige cocoons in certain areas of my tree. In fact, there is sap in my neighbor’s driveway from the maple sap. I don’t even collect maple sap from the trees. What should I do to keep my maple tree alive?
Tech Support says
Michael,
Spray it with the Bithor listed above.
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
George A Ford says
I have European hornets around my porch lights at night. I hear them in an old weeping willow tree right next to the house but I cannot seem to see the nest. Can I spray just the tree and hope the may be in contact with it
Tech Support says
George,
If they are using the tree for a nest, you should be able to see them coming and going where the nest is located. The nest will not be visible. But it will be important to spray the “crack” where they’re entering. Now if you go out and watch the tree for 30-45 minutes in late morning or afternoon on a sunny day, it should be easy to spot where they’re active. Once that location is identified, spray it heavily with the Prothor mixed 2 oz per gallon.
Also spray the siding of the home where they’re landing around lights.
Retreat every evening using 1/2 to 1 gallon of mixed material. After 3-4 nights, the nest will be dead.
Prothor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/prothor-sc
Katie Laurent says
I saw 1 European Hornet in my attic while getting down Christmas decorations today. I got spooked and got down as quick as I could. I live in Louisiana, we’ve only had a few dips in temperature to the 40’s so far this fall/winter. Do you think they will die when the weather gets cold? I’ve seen 2 of them outside earlier in this spring and this summer. What should I do?
Tech Support says
Katie,
Seeing 1-2 out in the yard away from the home wouldn’t be a surprise. But seeing them in the home and active is generally not good. They will often use homes as “holding” stations for when it gets cold for a few days and then leave when it warms. In other cases, they could eventually choose to nest there which would lead to a whole other series of problems.
At this time considering you’ve seen as many as reported, you should at least spray all routes of entry around the home. This would be the soffits where rain gutters mount, any vents and basically all along the roof line. These are common points of entry and most likely where they came in.
The best product for this is Bithor. Its non-repelling feature means it will not spook them so they’ll move over the treatment, pick up a lethal dose and die in a few days. This “delayed” killing action is important. If they’re nesting in or outside the home, there is a good chance some of them will bring some of the chemical back to their nest and kill it too since this product can be “shared” before it works.
Treating now would be wise; you’d be heading off any issues for next spring/summer. True, they will go dormant if you get any lasting cold. But here in GA and down to the southern most states, its not uncommon to have these and other hornets/wasps/bees active throughout the winter months when we get some warming trends.
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
Technical Support
http://www.bugspray.com
Mary says
I see them flying in my yard all day. At night they come at the lights, a bunch. Does that mean the nest is close if they come for the lights in droves?
Tech Support says
Mary,
There is no way to tell. They are naturally drawn to the light and for all you know, keeping the light on could be drawing active workers from many different nests.
.
Our best advice is to spray the homes side with the Bithor listed above as it will affect any coming around. This will in turn either kill off the nests or cause them to learn to go elsewhere.
.
Bithor: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/bithor_sc
.
Technical Support
bugspray.com
jammie says
These guys made a meal of my lilac bushes in my back yard. They were living in the ground between mine and my neighbors fence. The boy I had helping me with my yard work dropped a smoke bomb down there hole one day while I was at work, and up until recently I hadn’t been seeing them. Well, That was until a few nights ago when I killed one on my porch at night that was attracted to the porch light. I got another one tonight. They got the royal flush. Now while we eradicated them from the yard, my lilacs took damage from the bark being eaten, and coupled with the extreme heat, they lost all of their leaves. The bushes may have died. Any suggestions on how to keep them and the yellow jackets from nesting here? I am keeping the fence line cleaned up, so as when I cut I don’t wake anyone up underground. Also, many of the sprays I tried using on both these guys and yellow jackets haven’t done anything. Good luck to anyone who is battling these pests.
Tech Support says
Jammie,
If you want them gone for good, we’ve got a unique product that by design is undetectable. Mix 1 oz per gallon of water and spray the home’s siding around the light, on the lilac branches and parts they’re landing on as well as the fence and surrounding shrubs. Basically on any surface they’re using to roost, rest or nest on. Most all sprays, like the ones you’ve been using, contain an active ingredient that bees, wasps and hornets can easily detect. Once they detect it, they won’t land on treated surfaces. The net impact will be a treatment which doesn’t work and if anything, will only make them more aggressive and persistant.
But not our recommendations. Our concentrate, because its been ground to such a small size, won’t be detectable by insects that move over treated surfaces. So all these areas you treat where they’ve been active? They’ll keep landing there. And within 2-3 days, they will have picked up and shared enough chemical to kill their nest and so they will be gone for good.
Plan on applying at least 1 if not 2 gallons of mixed solution for 3 nights in a row. If you email us some details regarding the size of the areas where they’re active, we can recommend a specific amount for your needs. But the jug listed below can make over 25 gallons and so it will handle any level of infestation.
Now once treat for two nights, you will see a reduction in their activity. And by the 3rd, even less. Within one week all activity will stop because you will have either killed their nest OR impacted them enough to where they will not risk going where they’ve been getting killed. Hornets are smart this way and will eventually learn to avoid your yard if enough of them are adversely affected, even without killing the whole nest, so you can’t fail using this product.
You can either order it above or visit the product page to place the order here:
https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/prothor-sc
Tech Support