Like wasps, hornets have a segmented body and a skinny waist but are more robust and much larger in size. The most common hornet in our area, the European hornet, is a very large insect. Their bodies are brown with yellow stripes on their abdomens. European hornets have pale faces. They have two pairs of wings and six legs. European hornets have long bodies and antennae. Hornets have smooth stingers, allowing them to attack multiple times.