Hornets' homes are referred to as nests. Nests are typically made of a paper-like material and are built in sheltered areas such as trees, shrubs, or buildings. Hornets build their nests by chewing wood fibers and mixing them with saliva to form a paper-like material. The nest is then constructed in a layered fashion and can reach up to two feet in diameter. Hornets are social insects and live in colonies, so multiple nests may be found in the same area.