They vary in color from the usual golden brown to darker browns and even black. Honey bees cause concern under two circumstances. Frequently such swarms settle temporarily on the side of a house or on a tree branch. Swarms are discussed in Part I of this leaflet. These permanent homesites cause the treatest problem.
Honey bees tend to defend their new home against any inexperienced intruder.
Honeybee nests are perennial. These insects survive the winter by huddling together forming a tight warm cluster. The European hornet, Vespa crabro, is a large heavy-bodied wasp. It is brown in color with yellow and orange markings. This species was introduced into North America in the mid- 1800's.