How Will Wasps Fly at Night?
WouterDespite their name, hornets do not fly at night. Instead, they are attracted to lights, including porch lights. They may also fly in dim twilight or moonlight.
While hornets can be very dangerous, they are generally less aggressive than other wasps. They will defend their nests and will not attack you unless they are threatened. Their stings are very painful. You should not try to kill them. They are helpful in keeping your home free from other pests, but if you get them on your skin, you should run away.
There are several different kinds of hornets. The largest social wasp is the European hornet. They can be seen flying around porch lights at night. They are also very attracted to sweet foods. They are less aggressive than yellow jackets, but they still can be very dangerous.
European hornets are similar to facultatively nocturnal bees, meaning they do not develop nocturnal adaptations. They have similar eyes to diurnal wasps, but they are not as sensitive. They also have a shorter focal length, which helps them to lie within the retina.
The most common nocturnal wasp in the US is the Vespa Crabro. It flies at a hundred times lower light levels than other wasps. They have ocelli that are similar to diurnal wasps, and they have eyes with similar F-numbers. These ocelli are not very big, though.
Another nocturnal wasp is the Apioca wasp. It is a fruit-eating insect. It lays its eggs on nocturnal caterpillars. They do not rest much during the day, but they are very active at night. They can also be found building nests in hollow logs and tree branches. They are most active during the summer months.
