European hornet - Ask Extension
I live in Catonsville I have a peach, pear and fig tree. I had the hornets a few years back when they were eating the bark off my lilac tree. Las...
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European hornet #593874
Asked September 02, 2019, 1:13 PM EDT
I live in Catonsville I have a peach, pear and fig tree. I had the hornets a few years back when they were eating the bark off my lilac tree. Last year they ate on my figs and the bark. This year I tried to ignore them on my peaches. But now they are all over my pears. The eat all of the fruit inside leaving the seeds and outer skin. Is there anything I can do to get rid of them ? They are also eating the bark on my figs. Thankyou for any help.
Jeannie
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- European hornets are considered beneficial insects although in your situation they have become a nuisance. As you know, they strip bark from a variety of woody plants for nest building. They tend to like older wood. There are no products registered to prevent European hornets from girdling the twigs or bark. Their nests are often difficult to locate making it hard to eliminate nests.
This time of year they are looking for fuel- sap and ripe fruits. Don't allow pears to ripen on the tree- they will get soft and attract insects.Try harvesting pears when they re just turning yellow but are still hard. Figs don't ripen off the tree but you could try to harvest them before the little eye opens on the fruit bottom. They are somewhat less attractive to hornets and yellow jackets at that stage.
More information: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/european-hornets
https://extension.psu.edu/tree-fruit-insect-pests-yellow-jackets-and-hornets
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/PSEP/cat8wasps.html
Jon
This time of year they are looking for fuel- sap and ripe fruits. Don't allow pears to ripen on the tree- they will get soft and attract insects.Try harvesting pears when they re just turning yellow but are still hard. Figs don't ripen off the tree but you could try to harvest them before the little eye opens on the fruit bottom. They are somewhat less attractive to hornets and yellow jackets at that stage.
More information: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/european-hornets
https://extension.psu.edu/tree-fruit-insect-pests-yellow-jackets-and-hornets
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/PSEP/cat8wasps.html
Jon
