Query : hornets attracted to light but not wasps

[Kenelm Philip]

> I'm pretty convinced that UK Hornets (Vespa crabro) are 'attracted' to
> light.

	This appears to be well-documented. In the paper 'The Yellowjackets
of America North of Mexico' (Akre et al, 1980), the section on _V. crabro_
states, "Workers fly at night, and are attracted to lighted windows in
homes. "Sometimes ten or more will beat themselves against a window caus-
ing people inside to panic thinking they are trying to break the glass and
invade the house to attack them. The very loud buzzing and the force with
which they 'attack' the window is impressive" (C.W. Rettenmeyer, Univ.
Conn., personal commun.). In the autumn, _V. crabro_ males are often
attracted to lights as well; therefore, in addition to morphological dif-
ferences, a number of behavioral differences exist between this true hornet
and yellowjackets."

							Ken Philip
fnkwp at uaf.edu