HORNET (AS. hyoid, hurnitu, 0I1G. hornuz, ho•naz. Ger. Horniss; connected with Lat. erabro, °Cloud] Slay. srfisheni. Litt. szirnone, hornet, (1Chureh Slay. srisha. Lith. s;:irszri, wasp; less connected with horn. either from its antenna; or from its buzzing sound). A name ap plied to several large stinging insects belonging to the family Vespida. and genus Vespa. They dif for front l'olistes. the other common genu- of this family. in having larger, thicker bodies. and al ways including their nests with a grayish paper covering. In color, they arc usually black or dark brown, conspicuously ornamented with white or yellow. The hornet builds its nest, which is in the form of a number of combs placed one above another. in a hole in the ground. or in the open, attached to the branches of a tree, or under the eaves of buildings. Its manner of constructing the nest and caring for the young is the same as that described elsewhere under the title 1VAse. It is among the most voracious of
insects, eagerly laps up all sorts of sweets. and seizes and devours other insects of various kinds. One of the most common species in the United States is 1 esiet maealuto, which builds its great nest in the branches of trees. It is very vigilant, and especially irritable when attending to the duties of its nest, but it may often be found hibernating in the autumn and in decaying wood, when it may be handled with impunity.
The European hornet crubro) has been accidentally introdueed into the United States, and has established itself in the vicinity of New York City. Its spread has been Very slow, and although its original introduction and establish ment must have taken place many years ago, it is still apparently restricted to an area of little over 100 miles square, Sec WASP; and consult the authorities there referred to.