A bald-faced hornet queen begins engineering her nest in late April or early May. The wasps are most active in the summer and die in the fall. It is easy to identify the nest from its large size and spiral-like shape.
The wasps are beneficial to the overall ecosystem in Langhorne. They pollinate flowers and crops. They also eat pesky insects including flies and mosquitoes. So, why is it necessary to remove them from around the home or office building?
The sheer sight of the bald-faced hornet is enough to cause a person concern. They are large compared to other wasps. Their overall black-and-white coloring adds to the fear element. Also, if the wasps are spotted, their nests are not too far away. They are social insects that stick together. The wasps will protect their nest at all costs. So, someone walking by an office building could be within feet of a nest and not know it. The wasps will not hesitate to swarm that person. They tend to go for a person’s facial area when on the attack. The bald-faced hornet has a smooth stinger that can and will sting more than once without causing any harm to itself, but it will harm its victim. The sting will cause pain and could trigger an allergic reaction in those sensitive to insect stings.
Not only are the nests unsightly, but they are also made from paper pulp. The wasps need wood fiber to make the paper pulp. They get the wood from untreated areas on the property.
The wasps do not like noise of any kind. Noise from routine lawn maintenance or music from an outdoor gathering could be enough to anger the wasps causing them to attack.
WHAT DO BALD-FACED HORNETS LOOK LIKE?
The white markings on the insect allow these wasps to stand out among other wasps. The head, thorax, and abdomen are black. The wasp has black eyes stand that out due to the white markings on the head. There are a few white rings at the tip of its abdomen and the wings are a translucent dark brown. The flying insects are approximately ½ to ? inches long; the queen is a little longer.
WHERE DO BALD-FACED-HORNETS LIVE?
Bald-faced hornets live in paper nests. Once the weather begins to warm up, the queen is already busy creating her nest. She starts by gathering wood fiber. She mixes her salvia with wood fiber to make paper pulp. There are several comb layers, and the queen will deposit her eggs in chambers. Once the eggs mature it will be time to add more layers to the nest to accommodate the new workers. The workers' job is to get more wood fiber for the nest. The process continues until the cooler weather sets in.
The shape of the nest is narrow at the top and bottom and round in the middle. The nest is often a light grey or off-white. The nest is large measuring approximately two feet long and 18 inches around. The queen usually selects the nest's location. It is at least six feet off the ground and hidden in dense vegetation. However, the queen can build nests on the sides of homes, businesses, poles, or any place in Langhorne the queen feels is safe. A place with not much light is preferred.
The ball or football shape nest has an opening at the bottom. It is a convenient way for the workers to enter and exit the nest. There could be up to 400 workers in the nest during the peak season. The nest is a one-time use. The queen will not return to the nest the following spring.
WHAT DO BALD-FACED HORNETS EAT?
Bald-faced hornets are not picky when it comes to their diet. They eat insects and other small prey. The young feds on meat products. Adults will eat meat, but they like sweets too. They drink nectar, sweet sap, sugary drinks, and ripen fruit.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY BALD-FACED HORNETS
Property owners in Langhorne frequently are surprised to learn that a colony of bald-faced hornets actually can cause damage. Most of the destruction occurs as the pests build, maintain or add on to their nests. Wood fibers are a basic construction material for bald-faced hornets, and although trees can provide this, it may be easier to forage from fences, decks, siding, railings and other man-made structures. Any wooden structures that are not painted or stained may be attacked by bald-faced hornets.
The landscaping on the property may be vulnerable as well. This is particularly true for shrubs and trees that have only a thin layer of bark. Sometimes, the outer layer on this vegetation will be completely removed by the pest. Other insects, various diseases and the elements may now more easily attack the tree or shrub.
ARE BALD-FACED HORNETS AGGRESSIVE?
Yes, bald-faced hornets are very aggressive. They are sensitive to noise and movement. Any person, animal, or object coming within three feet of a nest is subject to an attack. They tend to attack in groups. Unfortunately for the victim, it means they will get stung multiple times. The hornets tend to aim for the face and are relentless. Also, if their victim runs, they will chase. It is better to make slow movements without waving arms or yelling.
DO BALD-FACED HORNETS CARRY DISEASE?
Bald-faced hornets are not known to transmit any diseases to humans or pets. However, they are very protective and aggressive regarding nest safety. They will sting both humans and pets, and the sting hurts. The hornets have a smooth stinger and are capable of stinging more than once. The area of the sting is likely to become irritated. The skin may begin to rise, turn red, burn, and itch. The symptoms could last up to a day. People who get stung multiple times may develop more symptoms, including hives, trouble breathing, and joint pain. Those with severe reactions to the venom, could have breathing issues and become sick to their stomachs. Seek medical attention if suffering a severe reaction.
It is not only their sting that could cause a medical problem. The bald-faced hornet can squirt venom into the eyes of an intruder. The objective is to blind their victim. Temporary blindness is possible. Seek medical help right away.
HOW TO DETECT BALD-FACED HORNETS
Signs of a bald-faced hornet presence include:
• Locating a large nest hanging from a tree or attached to the side of a house or office building • The wasps build their nests near homes and businesses where people are close enough to hear the buzzing sounds • Noticing the insects getting nectar from flowers or flying around food in the house • The wasps are stinging people or animals that may have accidentally entered the three feet nest zone
HOW TO PREVENT BALD-FACED HORNETS
To help prevent bald-face hornet issues the following steps should be taken:
• Tightly cover outdoor garbage, recycling, and compost bins • Fill all the cracks and crevices around the home or office to prevent wasps from entering or building nests. • Remove dropped fruit from the ground quickly • Prevent all greenery from becoming overgrown. The queen hornet like to nest in dense vegetation • Do not use sweet or flowery scented candles, room fresheners, or perfumes that will attract the wasps • Make sure to have screens on the doors and windows
HOW TO TREAT FOR BALD-FACED HORNETS
Here at Newtown Termite & Pest Control, we use a multi-faceted approach for treating hornets and wasps that have become problematic for area homes and businesses. Our methodology involves making use of the most appropriate detection, prevention, and treatments methods available. By combining these measures, we ensure that your home or business remains free of wasps and hornets.
