European Hornet Damage to Hollies: Identification and Management

Concentric bark-stripping rings 4 ft up on 'Nellie Stevens' hollies indicate European hornets (Vespa crabro), not voles. They chew bark for nest material and feed on sap. No effective prevention exists; maintain plant health with proper water and fertilizer. Hornets nest in hollow trees, unlike bald-faced hornets that build paper nests in shrubs.