Bald-faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata)

What are Bald-Faced Hornets?

Bald-faced hornets are relatives of yellowjackets. They get their name from their mostly black bodies and white faces. They’re named hornets because they’re large and build aerial nests.

What do Bald-Faced Hornets look like?

Bald-faced hornets look like yellowjackets. They have black bodies and mostly white faces. They also have two slanted lines running from their midsection to their head and abdomen. Like yellowjackets and paper wasps, the upper midsection of their bodies almost looks triangular from the side.

Queen bald-faced hornets are larger than worker hornets. Their nests are gray and paper-like, but they’re enclosed, unlike the open cone structures of other stinging hornets and insects like yellowjackets and paper wasps.

Signs of an Infestation

A bald-faced hornet infestation is easy to spot. You’ll see a nest suspended above the ground. You’ll also see worker hornets flying around the nest and nearby area if there’s an infestation.

To avoid getting stung, it’s important to avoid contact with these insects. Homeowners should seal any tiny openings, like cracks, where bald-faced hornets could enter when seeking shelter. Keeping food covered, especially outdoors, will also help keep these insects away. When spending time outdoors, people should avoid wearing strong fragrances and opt for unscented hygienic products. They should also wear shoes that cover and protect their feet from rogue hornets.

Bald-Faced Hornet Prevention

To get rid of bald-faced hornets, follow these steps:

1. Identify the nest.

2. Seal any entry points.

3. Remove any food sources.

4. Use insecticides if necessary.

If you discover a bald-faced hornet nest on your home or property, it’s crucial to refrain from attempting to remove it yourself. Doing so could escalate the situation and provoke the hornets to sting. Instead, contact a licensed pest control professional who has the expertise and equipment to handle hornet removal safely and effectively. During the day, the professional will conduct an inspection of the nest, and then they will remove it at night, when the majority of the hornets are resting in their shelter. This approach ensures a more efficient and less risky removal process.

Bald-faced hornet stings are painful, itchy, and swell for about 24 hours. Humans are equally susceptible to allergic reactions from their stings as with other insects.

Bald-faced hornets construct paper nests at least three or more feet off the ground, usually in trees, shrubs, on overhangs, utility poles, houses, sheds, or other structures. These nests can span up to 14 inches in diameter and exceed 24 inches in length.

Unlike other stinging insects, bald-faced hornets are aggressive and will attack anything that encroaches on their space. This makes removing them, which should always be done by a professional for safety reasons, somewhat challenging. Their smooth stingers allow them to sting repeatedly, unlike other stinging insects like honeybees, which can only attack once before their stinger falls off.

Bald-faced hornets are social insects, although not true hornets, and are most active during the day. They form colonies that can have between 100 and 400 members at their peak. Bald-faced hornets construct paper carton nests in the queen’s preferred location, typically at least three or more feet off the ground, and usually in trees, shrubs, on overhangs, utility poles, houses, sheds, or other structures. These nests can be as large as 14 inches in diameter and over 24 inches in length.

Bald-faced hornets typically appear in late summer when their populations are at their peak. In the end of summer, males emerge from unfertilized eggs and impregnate the new females for the upcoming season. The inseminated insects are the only ones that overwinter when the weather cools down. The remaining members of the nest die off, and the process repeats the following spring and summer. Unlike other stinging insects, bald-faced hornets do not reuse their nests season after season. The new members rebuild them each time using fresh materials.

This information was originally provided by the National Pest Management Association. For more information on identifying bugs, visit their website.