Pin oak trunk & hornets - help!

The bark on our pin oak, and I suppose the sap from it(?) is attracting some really nasty, 1-inch long hornets and other insects. It's a bit scarey, the hornets are so big, and, it's right near our kids playset. Does anyone have a clue where the hornets might be nesting and more importantly how to rid them all from the tree?

Thanks in adavance for your help.

 

Could they be wood-boring bees instead of hornets? Wood boring bees are also large and ominous looking - but not aggressive as hornets.

 

If you are seeing busy activity and any fluid on the trucks of your oak tree, it is likely bores have infested it. They drill into the side of the trunk, into the heart wood where the water and sugars are. This can cause them to leak out the drill holes, and attract hornets, yellow jackets and others. Look for saw dust at the base of the trunk, this will tell you if bores are present.

If that is the case, the best advice is to cut the tree down, dispose of it off site. With a bore infestation, control is complicated, and depending on how bad it is, might not work. And, you will want to get them out before they spread to other trees.

This is all speculation on my part, without seeing the tree itself.

Try a good tree company - Care of Trees is one, located in Dulles VA, on Rt 606. They can come out, diagnose, and give recommendations. Ask for Bonnie, she is an expert.

In the mean time, you might want to keep the kids away from that tree until you get it figured out.

 

Just went to check it and there isn't any dust from boring through... it looks like there are these knot holes all over it... not "holes" like a bee could go in though. Flys are on the trunk too, whatever they are after must be good b/c the big guys are fighting over it.

Thank you for the tree service recommendation! If I can't find an answer through google or elsewhere, I shall call her.