The Yellow-vented Hornet lives across Asia and is not known to be established in the United States. Its yellow abdominal tip and striped body can resemble larger hornets. It makes paper nests in shrubs, trees, and sheltered parts of buildings.
Appearance
Appearance
Adults are roughly 0.9–1.1 in (22–29 mm) long. The thorax is dark, the abdomen carries several yellow bands, and the tip of the abdomen is yellow.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
forest edges
gardens and city greenery
shrubs and building eaves
Range
Its native range spans much of tropical and temperate Asia, including Korea, Japan, China, South and Southeast Asia, and parts of the Russian Far East; the reviewed range does not include the United States.
Preferred conditions
Nests are usually above ground in vegetation or other sheltered, open sites.
Behavior
Diet
Workers hunt insects and other arthropods for the larvae. Adults also visit sap, nectar, and other sugary liquids.
Activity
Queens begin activity in spring, and colonies remain active into fall in temperate parts of the range.
Social life
A contains a queen and workers. A nest can be defended by many workers if it is shaken or disturbed.
Overwintering
Only new queens , often in protected spaces such as decaying wood.
Life cycle
Breeding season
An overwintered queen starts a nest alone in spring, and workers later expand it.
Nest
The early paper nest has a long, bottle-shaped entrance; it becomes rounder as the colony grows.