Large Hornets in Virginia

Many people have reported that they have found “murder hornets” in Virginia. No northern giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia, formerly called the Asian giant hornet or “murder hornet” by the media) have been documented in Virginia despite the hundreds of reports received by Virginia Cooperative Extension since 2019. In fact, no northern giant hornets have been found in North America outside a small area in Washington state and across the Canadian border in British Columbia, and none have been reported there since several nests were destroyed in 2021.

The vast majority of the insects reported to Virginia Cooperative Extension as suspect northern giant hornets have been identified as the European hornet (Vespa crabo) (Fig. 1). The European hornet is a large, stout hornet found in Virginia since the 1980s. People frequently mistake the European hornet for the northern giant hornet (Fig. 2), especially when looking at images of the insects found online. The European hornet measures about 1” long and has dark “drip” markings on the abdomen not seen on the northern giant hornet.

If you have found a suspect hornet, how can you tell the difference between the European hornet and the northern giant hornet?

First, look at the back of your specimen. Does your specimen have “drip” markings on the top of the abdomen (Fig. 1)? European hornets have this distinctive marking. Northern giant hornets do not (Fig. 2).

What if your suspect hornet clearly isn’t a European hornet?

If your specimen measures 1.5-2” (4-5 cm) long and does not have the “drip” markings on the abdomen, it may be an eastern cicada-killer wasp, a native predator of cicadas. Eastern cicada-killers have irregular dark bands on the abdomen with a solid dark tip (Fig. 3). The abdominal bands are more uniform on northern giant hornets. Also, look at the eyes of your specimen. The inner eye margins of an eastern cicada-killer are even and not notched (Fig. 4). The inner eye margins of a northern giant hornet are kidney-shaped with a deep notch (Fig. 5).

Is your specimen smaller than 1” (2.5 cm) long?

It is not a northern giant hornet. 

Does your specimen have any black or brown coloration on the head?

It is not a northern giant hornet.

If you would still like to have your specimen identified, contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent. You can find your local Cooperative Extension office here: https://ext.vt.edu/offices.html