ON THE BACK:
Flies scatter as a hunting hornet approaches wild angelica.
Withleigh 14th August 2016
Watercolour by John Walters johnwalters.co.uk 
 
Hornets hunt and capture flies and other insects, removing their wing muscles before taking the “meat ball” back to the nest as a valuable source of protein to feed to their developing larvae. In contrast, bees feed their young on pollen as a source of protein. Angelica is a member of the carrot family (the Umbellifers), as are celery, parsnips, coriander and parsley.
Hornets are unlikely to be aggressive unless disturbed.