How do hornets live?

Hornets are large wasps that live in colonies, often in trees or man-made structures like attics. They are carnivorous and primarily feed on other insects, although they will also consume nectar. Hornets are aggressive protectors of their nests and will defend them vigorously if threatened. They build their nests from paper-like material made from wood fibers that they chew up and mix with their saliva. Hornet colonies are organized with a queen, worker hornets, and drones. Mating occurs in the fall, with the fertilized queen surviving the winter to start a new colony the following spring. Hornets’ nests grow larger as the summer progresses, peaking in population during late summer.