Understanding the appearance of a queen hornet offers valuable insight into the life cycle and social structure of these fascinating insects. Hornets, as social wasps, organize their colonies around a single queen whose primary role is reproduction. Recognizing her distinct features helps differentiate her from other insects and even from the worker hornets within her own colony.
Key Visual Characteristics of a Queen Hornet
A queen hornet is notably larger than her male and worker counterparts, often being the largest individual in the colony. European hornet queens, for instance, can reach lengths of up to 35 mm, with some species like the Bald-faced hornet queen measuring around 25 mm (about one inch).
Their body shape is also distinct, featuring a more robust and elongated abdomen compared to the leaner abdomen of workers. This larger abdomen accommodates her reproductive organs, allowing her to lay numerous eggs. Hornet queens, like all wasps, possess a head, a thorax, and an abdomen, with two large compound eyes and three simple eyes (ocelli) on their heads.
Coloration and markings vary by species, but a common characteristic for European hornets is a brown thorax and alternating brownish-black and orange-yellow stripes on the abdomen. Some species, like the Bald-faced hornet, are predominantly black with white or ivory markings on the face and near the tip of the abdomen. Queens typically have well-developed, membranous wings that allow for long-distance flight, especially during colony establishment.
Distinguishing Queens from Worker Hornets
The most evident difference between a queen hornet and a worker hornet is their size, with the queen being considerably larger than workers of the same species. For example, European hornet workers are typically around 25 mm long, while queens can exceed 35 mm.
The queen’s abdomen is generally more rounded or robust due to its function in egg production, contrasting with the leaner, more slender abdomen of a worker. Workers have a more defined “waist” where the thorax and abdomen join. In terms of behavior, early in the season, a queen hornet is often observed solitarily, engaged in the initial stages of nest building and egg-laying. Workers, however, are typically seen later in the season foraging for food and expanding the nest.
Only the queen lays eggs, while workers are sterile females responsible for nest maintenance and food collection. The queen’s primary focus is reproduction, and she typically remains within the nest after the first workers emerge.
When and Where to Spot a Queen Hornet
Queen hornets are most frequently sighted during specific periods of the year, aligning with their life cycle. They typically emerge from hibernation in early spring, often as temperatures begin to rise, to search for a suitable location to establish a new colony. This period, generally from March to May, is when they are most active outside a developing nest.
During late summer and early fall, new queens are produced within the established colony. After mating, these newly fertilized queens seek sheltered spots for overwintering, such as under bark, in hollow trees, or within crevices in buildings. They do not reuse old nests for hibernation. Therefore, encountering a queen hornet outside of a nest is most likely in spring as she initiates a new colony, or in late autumn as she seeks a hibernation site.