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There is an evil European Hornets nest by my apartment, and they keep flying near me! I saw somebody trying to feed them though, and they didn't get stung for some reason. Are they aggressive?
If you can see the entire nest, then my bet, they are not european hornets. They prefer to build their nests in some sort of cavity, like a hollowed out tree, or a wall cavity. They are also quite large in size. What you may have are european wasps, which are a little smaller than a paper wasp. Here's a not so good photo of a european hornet in my backyard. This guy was roughly 2 1/2 inches in length with a diameter of my pinky. Not very aggressive on their own, but the size alone will give you pause.
If the nest looks like this one, that was in my front yard, I would stay away. These are baldfaced hornets, and will sting with little to no provocation. Nasty, nasty bee.
Last edited by LIcenter; 01-28-2017 at 04:31 AM..
Reason: additional info
Sorry but I just have to say this, especially here in the Nature Forum, because this is something I have a big bee in my bonnet about.
There is no such thing as a nasty bee. There never was and never will be a nasty bee.
I wish people would stop referring to hornets and wasps as bees. All it does is promote continued ignorance in already ignorant people who think bees and wasps and hornets are all the same thing that need to be killed and it gives a bad reputation to innocent bees which bees do not deserve.
Sorry but I just have to say this, especially here in the Nature Forum, because this is something I have a big bee in my bonnet about.
There is no such thing as a nasty bee. There never was and never will be a nasty bee.
I wish people would stop referring to hornets and wasps as bees. All it does is promote continued ignorance in already ignorant people who think bees and wasps and hornets are all the same thing that need to be killed and it gives a bad reputation to innocent bees which bees do not deserve.
Please don't do it.
.
True. Bees are our friends. Yes, they pack a sting, but when they use it whatever is getting stung richly deserves it.
Sorry but I just have to say this, especially here in the Nature Forum, because this is something I have a big bee in my bonnet about.
There is no such thing as a nasty bee. There never was and never will be a nasty bee.
I wish people would stop referring to hornets and wasps as bees. All it does is promote continued ignorance in already ignorant people who think bees and wasps and hornets are all the same thing that need to be killed and it gives a bad reputation to innocent bees which bees do not deserve.
Please don't do it.
.
Nowhere in my post did I advocate the killing of nature's critters. I specifically said to stay away.
You wanna beat me up for using the generic term "bee" fine. I know it's a wasp, and will try to 'BE' more careful in the future. Okay?
If you can see the entire nest, then my bet, they are not european hornets. They prefer to build their nests in some sort of cavity, like a hollowed out tree, or a wall cavity. They are also quite large in size. What you may have are european wasps, which are a little smaller than a paper wasp. Here's a not so good photo of a european hornet in my backyard. This guy was roughly 2 1/2 inches in length with a diameter of my pinky. Not very aggressive on their own, but the size alone will give you pause.
If the nest looks like this one, that was in my front yard, I would stay away. These are baldfaced hornets, and will sting with little to no provocation. Nasty, nasty bee.
??
As most people are taught when they are children, bees and wasps are quite distinct. And their propensity to sting humans, and their usefulness TO humans, is entirely different. Hence why most kids already know the difference by the time they reach 10.
Nowhere in my post did I advocate the killing of nature's critters. I specifically said to stay away.
You wanna beat me up for using the generic term "bee" fine. I know it's a wasp, and will try to 'BE' more careful in the future. Okay?
Bee is a generic term for the different types of bee. Not wasps. Like dog isn't a generic term for coyotes.
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The bees thank you for your consideration of their feelings. 
