What's with all these friggin hornets?

August 9, 2009 6:12 PM

Why would there be all these dead & dying hornets in my apartment, after a weekend away?

So I just got back from a weekend away (Friday am - Sunday pm), and I walk in the door to a floor full of dead hornets. They are isolated to one small section of the house, near the cat food table. The ones that aren't seemingly dead are very lethargic and easy to kill/flush. What's the deal? Why the sudden influx? If there was a nest which hatched?, why are they all suddenly dead or nearly dead?

Should I be worried about anything else happening? Another invasion?

Please help me understand the madness. I apologize if this is somehow obvious.

posted by pilibeen to Home & Garden (3 answers total)

Sounds like someone used some Raid on a hornet's nest nearby, possibly under some eaves, inside a wall or in the ceiling. Raid is a nerve toxin that takes a little time to work, so they would have been able to crawl away and end up on your floor.
Ask your neighbors, they would know if anyone's been a-Raiding.
posted by dunkadunc at 6:33 PM on August 9, 2009

Also, if they came in (before you left?) but couldn't get out for a couple of days, they probably starved to death.
posted by musofire at 7:29 PM on August 9, 2009

Are you sure they're hornets? Termite infestations are often discovered when a sudden swarm of winged termites appears.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:08 PM on August 9, 2009