The general name hornet is frequently misused for just about any species of large, ferocious looking and stinging insect. To most people hornet is used to designate both the bald faced hornet and the european hornet, even though the european hornet is a true hornet and the bald faced hornet is actually in the same insect group as yellowjackets. Worldwide there is only about 20 species of true hornets, while only one true hornet, vespa crabo, is found in the united states. As its common name suggests, the european hornet is an introduced species to the u.s. from europe.