Query : hornets attracted to light but not wasps

[Prichard,AW,NAR7 PRICHAA2 M]

Hi

My experience from moth trapping is that many more hornets turn up at the UV
lights than ordinary wasps. This year has been noticeably bad (good?) for
hornets in that sometimes we have had over 50 hornets in each of several
traps at sites. Whereas wasps although they have been very common during the
day only seem to turn up at light very occasionally in ones or twos.

I presume that hornets are still active and flying around at night whereas
wasps aren't as a rule. Does anyone have any idea why there is a difference
in the behaviour between the two? What are they getting up to at this time
of the day - looking for food?

Regards

Tony Prichard
Suffolk, UK