Hornet Facts for Kids

17 Hornet Facts For Kids

1. Hornet is the common name for a small group of eusocial stinging insects in the Vespa genus.
2. Hornet species are found around the world, with heavy concentrations in the Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
3. Hornets are social and live together in communal nests made from papery pulp (chewed wood).
4. Almost all the known hornet species build their nests in trees or shrubs, but some build their nests underground.
5. The Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) is an example of a hornet species that builds its nest in the ground.
6. Some hornet species can have a nest with up to 700 workers at a single time.
7. Hornets are omnivorous and eat both meat and plant material.
8. The diet of a hornet usually includes insects, nectar, and other sugar-rich plant material.
9. There are 22 hornet species in the Vespa genus.
10. A hornet has a lifespan between 14 days and 12 months, depending on the type of hornet and the species.
11. The most widely distributed hornet species is the European hornet (Vespa crabro) which is found on multiple continents.
12. The largest hornet species is the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) with a maximum length of 2 inches.
13. Hornets have a stinger that is smooth, allow them to sting prey or a threat multiple times in a row.
14. Hornet stings are far more painful than wasp or bee stings due to a large amount of acetylcholine in their stings.
15. Hornet nests are dangerous to humans, they can release an attack pheromone that mobilizes the nest to attack any intruders.
16. A hornet attack can be fatal to a human if they are stung enough times or if they have an allergic reaction.
17. One of the most lethal hornet species is the greater banded hornet (Vespa tropica) with a single sting being lethal enough to kill a mouse.

Hornet Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the below images will be helpful for your research on hornets. Below are three pictures of various hornet species. These pictures should help you better understand the different types of hornets found around the world.

A picture close up of a hornet.

A picture of two hornets on a tree.

A picture of Asian hornets attacking a beehive.