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common
European Hornet
Vespa crabro
- Habitat
- Woodlands of Europe & introduced to eastern North America
- Body length
- 35 mm
- Order
- Hymenoptera · Vespidae
Weird but real
Hunts in low light at dusk and dawn, and is the only true hornet that regularly flies at night.
Why it's cool
Larger and gentler than its reputation suggests. Workers practice trophallaxis, feeding each other mouth-to-mouth like a hive-wide kiss chain.
