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Glite Dictionary
Vespa crabro

Vespa crabro

9.9
A large hornet with yellow and brown marks from Europe and parts of Asia
  • noun
  • /ˈvɛspə ˈkræbroʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Vespa crabro
  • Many beekeepers take precautions to protect their hives from Vespa crabro attacks.

Examples

  • The Vespa crabro is known for its characteristic yellow and brown markings.

  • In North America, many homeowners are wary of the Vespa crabro due to its painful sting.

  • In some regions, the Vespa crabro has become established as an invasive species.

  • The Vespa crabro is known for its aggressive nature.

  • Have you ever seen a Vespa crabro up close?

  • The Vespa crabro can be identified by its large size and distinctive color patterns.

  • During the summer, the buzzing of the Vespa crabro is often heard around outdoor picnics.

Synonyms

giant hornet
vsVespa crabro
6.5

A very large insect like a wasp that stings and can be aggressive

is the specific species native to Europe and parts of Asia not a general label

Surface Forms

Vespa crabro singular
Vespa crabros plural

Morphology

Vespa + crabro

The genus name 'Vespa' clearly signals a wasp/hornet, so a learner who knows that constituent could infer the MWE refers to a type of large wasp. However, 'crabro' is not an English lexical item and species epithets are essentially arbitrary labels, so the specific identification as the European hornet cannot be fully derived from the parts.

Etymology

Vespa crabro comes from old Latin words: Vespa means 'wasp' and crabro was a word for a large 'hornet'. So the name literally describes a big wasp, which is why it refers to the European hornet today.