A hornet with the remnants of a honeybee.

Deutsch: Beschreibung: Unter Hornisse (Vespa crabro) versteht man im deutschsprachigen Raum eine Art der sozialen Faltenwespen (Vespidae), die zur Gattung der Großwespen oder umgangssprachlich Hornissen (Vespa) gez??hlt wird. I
English: Description: Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps, reaching up to 45 millimetres (1.8 inches) in length. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa, and are distinguished from other vespines by the width of the vertex (part of the head behind the eyes), which is proportionally larger in Vespa; and by the anteriorly rounded gasters (the section of the abdomen behind the wasp waist). See wasp and bee characteristics to help identify an insect. As shown a Vespa crabro germana, where germana describes the colour form.

Date 10.08.2007
Author Richard Bartz (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Richard_Bartz), Munich aka Makro Freak

From http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Vespa_crabro_germana_with_pray_apis_Richard_Bartz.jpg


Comments
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The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is the largest eusocial wasp native to Europe. It is also the only true hornet (genus Vespa) found in North America, having been introduced to the United States and Canada from Europe as early as 1840. The European hornet is a true hornet (genus Vespa), a group characterized by eusocial species. The genus is in the subfamily Vespinae, members of which are known for chewing up their food to feed it to their young, as well as chewing up paper-like materials to make their nests.