Hornets do not build honeycombs or produce honey, unlike honeybees. Their distinct biology and behavior explain these differences.
Hornet Nest Construction
Hornets build elaborate nests from a unique paper-like material. They create this by chewing wood fibers and mixing them with their saliva, forming a pulp that hardens as it dries. These nests are typically enclosed structures, often appearing spherical, teardrop-shaped, or football-shaped, and can grow quite large. Inside the protective outer shell, hornets construct hexagonal cells, similar in shape to honeycomb, but made of paper and used for raising their young, not for storing honey.
These paper nests are found in various sheltered locations, including tree branches, under building eaves, utility poles, or inside wall voids and attics. Some species, like the Asian giant hornet, may even build nests underground, often utilizing abandoned rodent burrows. A queen hornet initiates the nest construction in the spring, and the entire colony works to expand it throughout the summer. Each nest is built anew every year and is not reused in subsequent seasons.
Why Hornets Don’t Produce Honey
Hornets do not produce honey due to fundamental differences in their biology and dietary needs compared to honeybees. They lack the specialized glands that honeybees possess to convert nectar into honey. While adult hornets consume sugary liquids like nectar, fruit juices, and tree sap for immediate energy, they do not process these into a storable form.
The primary diet of hornets, particularly for their developing larvae, consists of protein from other insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and even honeybees. Worker hornets hunt these prey, chew them into a paste, and feed them to the larvae. The larvae, in turn, secrete a sweet liquid that adult hornets consume, meeting their sugar requirements without needing to store large quantities of honey. Their nests primarily serve as shelter and nurseries for their young, not as long-term food storage facilities.
Hornets Versus Honeybees: Key Distinctions
A significant distinction between hornets and honeybees lies in their colony life cycles and social structures. Hornet colonies are annual, meaning they typically last only one season. Only the fertilized queen overwinters, hibernating in a protected location and emerging in spring to start a new nest and colony from scratch. The worker hornets, males, and the old queen all perish with the onset of colder weather.
Honeybee colonies, conversely, are perennial and can survive multiple years with thousands of individuals remaining active through winter. They rely on their stored honey reserves to sustain the colony during periods of food scarcity. Hornets, being primarily predatory, do not require such extensive sugar reserves, and their nests are abandoned each year once their reproductive cycle concludes. Honeybees also possess hairy bodies, which are efficient for collecting pollen, a crucial part of their diet, whereas hornets have smoother, less hairy bodies.