Question: Which North Carolina wasp species is the only true hornet and is often active at night near porch lights?
Answer: The European hornet (Vespa crabro) has a reddish-brown thorax with yellow abdominal stripes and can grow up to 1.5 inches long. They build nests in hollow trees, attics, or wall voids, become defensive near their nest, and are capable of stinging multiple times when threatened.
