Hornet and yellow jackets on my hands. Spoken by Hans J. Sittig.

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The Hidden World of Wasps and Hornets: A Filmmaker’s Perspective
I am Lothar Lenz, a nature photographer with heart and soul, and I am lucky enough to live in a small cul-de-sac village in the Eifel – surrounded by fields, forests, and stream valleys, just a stone's throw from the Moselle valley. Here, I can experience nature in all its diversity and observe some of the most fascinating animals right on my doorstep: black storks, wildcats, and eagle owls are my permanent neighbors. In summer, my garden comes alive with hornets and wasps, which I capture with my camera, whether in impressive close-ups or exciting video sequences.
This closeness to nature inspires me every day and fuels my passion for capturing the beauty and uniqueness of our environment. My greatest wish is to inspire others to appreciate and protect this wonderful world – whether in distant regions or right in their own backyard.
For a long time, I hesitated to release this video. I worried that many people might find it sensationalistic or alarming.
But in the end, I decided to share it – for a very important reason: I want to show that wasps and hornets are far from the vicious creatures many people believe them to be.
For several years now, every summer, I’ve been documenting the social lives of paper wasps and hornets through film. These remarkable creatures have captivated me more and more over time. The more I learned, the less I could understand the fear and hysteria that so many people feel at the mere sight of them.
This video not only highlights the fascinating behaviors of these misunderstood insects but also provides a behind-the-scenes look at how I create my wasp and hornet documentaries. It reveals how I approach these creatures, the techniques I use to capture them on film, and how I coexist with them safely.
Wasps and hornets are neither evil nor aggressive – as long as you respect their nature.
I understand why their rapid flight movements can be unsettling for many. These movements often trigger reflexive reactions like swatting or blowing air at them. However, their quick, darting flights are a natural behavior. It allows them to focus their highly sensitive, high-resolution eyes. When we move quickly, they perceive it in slow motion and can react even faster.
Over the years, I’ve learned that staying calm and composed is the key. If we remain still, they remain peaceful. While filming, I was often surrounded by them. They landed on me, crawled near my eyes, ears, and even my mouth – yet not once was I stung.
What many people don’t realize is that blowing air at them is counterproductive. The carbon dioxide in our breath signals danger to them and makes them uneasy. But as long as we move slowly and respectfully, they have no reason to use their sting.
Aggression only arises when they perceive their nest or young as being under threat. That’s why avoiding their nests altogether is the simplest way to avoid any conflict.
Like every other species, wasps and hornets play a vital role in our planet’s intricate ecosystems. They are indispensable links in a chain of hundreds of thousands of species and interdependencies. Unfortunately, we humans often overestimate our ability to interfere with or manage these systems. Time and time again, we’ve proven that we don’t fully grasp the complex interconnections of nature.
This realization inspired me to create the footage shown here. Perhaps it will help some viewers overcome their fear of these protected insects. They are among the most misunderstood creatures on our planet – and they deserve far better than their unfair reputation.