The sighting of a queen European hornet (Vespa crabro) in Gosforth Park in June was exciting and unexpected but wasn't proof that they are established here. A couple of weeks ago the nature reserve warden, Paul, caught a worker hornet in a moth trap. And this morning I saw another worker hunting in the lodge garden and catching a hoverfly (photos above and below).
This is Paul's photo of the worker in his moth trap.
This is proof there is a nest somewhere in the reserve. It has been a good summer for insects so there is a good chance that more queens will be produced in the next few weeks and hornets may become established locally.
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