Doug Wechsler / European hornet (Vespa crabro) queen hibernating, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, December.

Doug Wechsler / Bald-faced hornets (Dolichovespula maculata) around alcoholic flux, a stress related disease that causes foam like sap to bleed from wounds in the bark, Washington State Park, Pennsylvania, USA, July.

Adrian Davies / Hornet nest (Vespa affinis) Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo

Alan Williams / Hornet hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding on Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) at edge of woodland, Cheshire, UK, August.

Alan Williams / Hornet hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding on Ivy (Hedera helix) Cheshire, England, UK, September.

Pete Oxford / Hornet nest with larvae, sold as food in market.Apatani Tribe, Ziro Valley, Himalayan Foothills, Arunachal Pradesh.North East India

David Kjaer / Hornet (Vespa crabro), Wiltshire, UK, July.

Russell Cooper / Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding from Ivy flowers (Hedera helix) London, UK, September.

Andy Sands / Hornet robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) sitting with wings open on heathland ground, Surrey, England, UK. August

Andy Sands / Hornet robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) sitting with wings open on heathland ground, Surrey, England, UK. August

Stephen Dalton / European hornet (Vespa crabro) in flight against white background. Sussex, England, UK. October.

Stephen Dalton / Social wasp (Vespa) in flight, against white background. England, UK. October.

Stephen Dalton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) feeding on ivy flower nectar. Sussex, England, UK. October.

Nick Upton / Hornet / Golden-haired longhorn beetle (Leptura aurulenta) on log, Sutjeska Park, Bosnia and Herzegovina, July.

Stephen Dalton / Hoverfly (Volucella inanis) in flight, Sussex, England, UK. September.

Stephen Dalton / Hoverfly (Volucella inanis) in flight, Sussex, England, UK. September.

Kim Taylor / European hornet (Vespa crabro) worker in flight, Surrey, England, August.

John Abbott / Baldfaced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) Junipers Reservoir, Lake View, Lake County, Oregon, USA, June.

MYN / Pierre Escoubas / European hornet (Vespa crabro) Valbonne, France, July. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

MYN / Pierre Escoubas / Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) Valbonne, France, July. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

Nick Upton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) returning to nest in hollow tree, guard visible at entrance. Another worker crawls over the surface of the nest. Gloucestershire, UK, October.

Nick Upton / Three Hornets (Vespa crabro) returning to nest in hollow tree, Gloucestershire, UK, October.

Nick Upton / Three Hornets (Vespa crabro) guarding nest entrance in hollow tree. One wing fanning to help cool it. Gloucestershire, UK, October.

Nick Upton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) checked by a guard as it returns to the entrance of its nest, Gloucestershire, UK, October.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hornet Ophrys (Ophrys crabronifera) in flower, Mount Argentario, Italy, April. Endemic to the west coast of Italy.

Paul Harcourt Davies / European hornet (Vespa crabro) on flower, Podere Montecucco. Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, October.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hornet hoverfly (Milesia crabroniformis) on flower,

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hornet Ophrys (Ophrys crabronifera) in flower, Mount Argentario, Italy, April. Endemic to the west coast of Italy.

Alex Hyde / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) photographed in mobile field studio on a white background. The National Forest, Leicestershire, UK. September.

Robin Chittenden / Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) male on blackberry, Suffolk, England, UK, August.

Stephen Dalton / Hoverfly (Volucella inanis) male, Sussex, England, UK, August.

Stephen Dalton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) drinking, Sussex, England, UK, October.

Doug Wechsler / European Hornet (Vespa crabo) portrait, Wissahickon, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, December.

Doug Wechsler / European Hornet (Vespa crabo) hibernating, Wissahickon, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, December.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hornet Ophrys (Ophrys crabronifera / Ophrys argolica subsp crabronifera) an endemic species restricted to the west coast of central Italy including the islands. Mount Argentario, Tuscany, Italy, April...

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hornet Ophrys (Ophrys crabronifera / Ophrys argolica subsp crabronifera) Porto St Stefano, Argentario, Tuscany, Italy. April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hornet Ophrys (Ophrys crabronifera) Piediluco, Terni, Umbria, Italy May.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hybrid orchid (Ophrys x camusii), hybrid of Hornet orchid (Ophrys crabronifera) and Early spider ophrys (Ophrys spegodes) Piediluco, Terni, Umbria, Italy, May.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hornet Ophrys (Ophrys crabronifera) Piediluco, Terni, Umbria, Italy May.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hybrid orchid (Ophrys x camusii), hybrid of Hornet orchid (Ophrys crabronifera) and Early spider ophrys (Ophrys spegodes) Piediluco, Terni, Umbria, Italy, May.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hornet Ophrys (Ophrys crabronifera var chlorantha) rare yellow form, Villalago, near Terni, Umbria, Italy, April.

Rod Williams / Male Hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding on ragwort, Lewisham, London, UK, August.

Jussi Murtosaari / European hornet (Vespo crabro) feeding on bumblebee, South Karelia, southern Finland, July.

MYN / Dimitris Poursanidis / Oriental vespa wasp (Vespa orientalis) Milatos, Crete, Greece, March. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

MYN / Dimitris Poursanidis / Oriental vespa wasp (Vespa orientalis) Milatos, Crete, Greece, March. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

MYN / Dimitris Poursanidis / Oriental vespa wasp (Vespa orientalis) Milatos, Crete, Greece, March. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

Thomas Marent / Hornet Moth (Sesia apiformis) pair mating, Switzerland

Thomas Marent / Hornet Moth (Sesia apiformis) recently hatched, Switzerland

Rod Williams / Hoverfly (Volucella inanis) Lewisham, London, August

Rod Williams / Hornet-mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) washing its face, on gooseberry bush Lewisham, London, August

Paul Harcourt Davies / Red-legged robberfly (Engelepogon brunnipes) with Damselfly (Zygoptera) prey, Sardinia, Italy, September

Paul Harcourt Davies / Red-legged robberfly (Engelepogon brunnipes) with Damselfly (Zygoptera) prey, Sardinia, Italy, September

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) group on nest, Europe

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) group on nest, Europe

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) pupa in brood cells, Europe

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) worker emerging from brood cell near pupa, Europe

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) group tending to nest, Europe

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) queen and workers, Europe

Mark MacEwen / Japanese giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia) attacking honey bees, Ina Nagano Province, Japan, March

Mark MacEwen / Japanese giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia) attacking honey bees, Ina Nagano Province, Japan, March

Mark MacEwen / Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) deep fried to be eaten, Ina Nagano Province, Japan, March 2006

Mark MacEwen / Man eating Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) deep fried, Ina Nagano Province, Japan, March 2006

Loic Poidevin / Asian Wasp (Vespa velutina) nest on street light. West France, Nantes, September.

Loic Poidevin / Asian Wasp (Vespa velutina) nest on street light. West France, Nantes, September.

Gary K. Smith / Hornet moths (Sesia apiformis) freshly emerged male and female mating at base of Poplar tree trunk, UK, June

Kim Taylor / Hornet robber fly (Asilus crabroniformis) with fly prey (Larvaevora sp), Dorset, England, September

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) building 'paper' nest from masticated wood. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) making 'paper' nest from masticated wood. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) on fallen apple. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) feeding on fallen apple. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) in profile. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) in profile. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) swarming under tree. Tours, France, September.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) swarming through window pane. Tours, France, September.

Roland Seitre / Swelling on human skin, the result of being stung by European Hornet (Vespa crabro). Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespo crabro) sting in human sting. **c, August.

Roland Seitre / Woman observing a European Hornet (Vespa crabro) 'paper' nest. Tours, France, August 2006.

Roland Seitre / Man photographing European Hornet (Vespa crabro) nest as the workers swarm around him. Tours, France, September 2007.

Roland Seitre / Man using insecticide on European Hornet (Vespa crabro) nest as the workers swarm around him. Tours, France, September 2007.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) emerging from cell after metamorphosing from larva to adult wasp. Tours, France, August. Sequence 3 of 3.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) emerging from cell after metamorphosing from larva to adult wasp. Tours, France, August. Sequence 2 of 3.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) emerging from cell after metamorphosing from larva to adult wasp. Tours, France, August. Sequence 1 of 3.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) emerging from cell after metamorphosing from larva to adult wasp. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / Cross-section of European Hornet (Vespa crabro) nests, showing cells with larvae at different stages of metamorphosis from pupa to adult. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) adult emerging from cell; the surrounding cells contain larvae in their final stage of metamorphosis into adults. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / Cross-section of European Hornet (Vespa crabro) larvae in cells, showing different stages of development. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) larvae in its cell; the surrounding cells have been sealed as the larvae metaphorphose into adults. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) feeding larvae in cells. Tours, France, August.

Roland Seitre / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) nest cells, containing eggs at different stages of development. Tours, France, August.

Andy Sands / Hornet Robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) on ling heather (Calluna vulgaris) West Sussex, England, UK, August.

Nick Upton / Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) on rock drinking water near beach shower, Samos, Greece, August.

Nick Upton / Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) on rock drinking water near beach shower, Samos, Greece, August.

Nick Upton / Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) drinking water from wet leaf litter, Samos, Greece, August.

Daniel Heuclin / Male Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) France, November 2011

Daniel Heuclin / Male Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) France, November 2011

Daniel Heuclin / Male Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) France, November 2011