Vespa crabro, the European Hornet, was introduced to North America by the 1840s. It seems to have naturalized. This time of year, bunches of males are on the wing, waiting for females.
This is a scrum of several males around around a (larger) female, hoping to mate.
One succeeds.
They’re attached for a few minutes.
This female will overwinter tucked away somewhere and if she survives until next spring, will be ready to start a hive, probably in a local tree trunk. I’ve yet to find a nest.
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