For contrast, this is a European hornet. They’re larger, more pronounced and colorful abdomen, red/brown thorax/head/legs, and sound very different when they fly.

It was also very notable that bees and other flying insects tried to chase the Asian hornet away, while they're fine with the European hornets (which makes sense as the Asian hornet preys on bees).

#insects #insecten #wasps #wespen #hornets #hoornaars #nature #natuur #nederlandsenatuur

And this isn’t a hornet at all, but the hornet mimic hoverfly. It does look and sound a bit like a (European) hornet.

#insects #insecten #hoverflies #zweefvliegen #hornets #hoornaars #nature #natuur #nederlandsenatuur

Lovely creatures, unfortunately victim of the extinction of the Asian variant.
@valichikismet yeah, lots of people have no clue 😢 (but then again, lots of people don't even know the difference between bees and wasps… 🙄)