A hornet is actually a wasp that is larger in size than a typical insect of that type. The bald-faced hornet is actually a species of the yellow jacket and is commonly encountered throughout Warminster and the region.
The nest of the bald-faced hornet is usually quite easy to spot. Nests are paper-like structures that hang from structures, trees, bushes and other stand-alone structures. Sometimes, a bald-faced hornet colony will move indoors and create a nest inside an attic or shed. Bald-faced hornet nests can become very large. It is easy to spot a nest from this species because it has more of a football shape than a typical rounded, bulbous bee or wasp nest.
Bald-faced hornet colonies are structured in a very specific manner. There is a queen bee that will lay hundreds of eggs within a season. Then, there are drone hornets and workers that will work day in and day out to help keep the colony functioning. Bald-faced hornets are also good pollinators, which can take place during the spring and summer months.
WHAT DO BALD-FACED HORNETS LOOK LIKE?
The bald-faced hornet can be identified by the white marks that are on the face of this insect. These lines and marks can also be spotted on the abdomen, thorax and legs of the bald-faced hornet. The queen bald-faced hornet of the colony is typically the largest, growing close to 20mm in length when fully mature. The workers are typically quite a bit smaller, ranging anywhere from 13mm and upwards in length.
Bald-faced hornets will come and go from a paper nest that is usually situated at least three feet off of the ground for protection reasons. It is shaped like a football, and the worker hornets will come and go throughout the day and evening. The bald-faced hornet tends to have a slimmer body with a very distinguished line between the upper and lower segments. This makes the rear segment of the bald-faced hornet body look very rounded and large compared to the rest of the insect body and other similar species. It also has a triangular appearance on the bottom half, with the rear coming to a point where a stinger is located. This stinger can be about ¼ inch long, and it is very strong. The stinger of a bald-faced hornet can sometimes pierce through clothing, making it incredibly important to use the services of a professional for hornet removal.
Bald-faced hornets live in large colonies of anywhere from 400 to 700 workers in each nest. There tends to be a lot of activity, especially during the day in Warminster, as the workers come and go in search of food and supplies. Activity will be most prevalent in the evening when workers are coming back to the nest for the night.
Don’t get too close to the bald-faced hornet while attempting to identify the insect in question. This is an aggressive species of hornet that will attack when anyone gets too close to the colony’s nes
WHERE DO BALD-FACED-HORNETS LIVE?
Bald-faced hornets build nests that are constructed by the hornet chewing up wood and creating a paper-like material. This material is then formed into small cells inside the main nest structure. The outer shell tends to be very thick in order to protect the colony. Multiple tiers of cells are often created, allowing for the ongoing expansion of the nest as needed.
The nest of this insect will be located at least three feet off the ground for optimal protection. It’s common to see these nests very high up in trees, as high as 60 feet. Other prime nest locations include inside attics, sheds, under the eaves of a structure and inside large bushes and shrubs.
Bald-faced hornet behavior is relatively repetitive, with an ongoing pattern of looking for food, bringing it back to the nest, and finding materials to expand an existing nest. Because of this, most home and property owners will be able to quickly spot the presence of bald-faced hornets when activity picks up. It is important to catch the formation of a nest early on. This allows for the startup nest to be removed quickly before the aggressive behavior of the colony picks up, which makes it much harder to address a bald-faced hornet problem.
Because bald-faced hornets are usually in search of food and building materials, removing these sources is ideal. Hornets will choose untreated, unpainted wood as the material for nests. Whenever possible, keep wood treated to deter hornets and other insects that display the same behavior. Also, seal up any cracks or gaps in attics and structures to prevent these insects from finding a location to build a nest.
WHAT DO BALD-FACED HORNETS EAT?
The diet of the bald-faced hornet typically includes other insects such as aphids and caterpillars. It is also common for this species of insect to feed off nectar and pollen from plants that flower in the Warminster area. Meat is also part of the bald-faced hornet. It can be sourced from animals in the wild or from human food. Speaking of human food, bald-faced wasps will flock to picnics and human food sources if other options are not readily available. This includes soda, baked goods and other sweets.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY BALD-FACED HORNETS
Because bald-faced hornets use wood pulp in order to construct nests, nearby wood structures can be damaged by this insect during the building phase. This includes fences, the framing of a building, trees, shrubs and more.
ARE BALD-FACED HORNETS AGGRESSIVE?
Bald-faced hornets are a very protective species that guards the nest of the colony quite aggressively. If a human comes too close to the nest or attempts to remove it, the bald-faced hornets will repeatedly strike and sting these intruders. When an intruder is spotted, bald-faced hornets will alert one another and attack in large groups. The stinger of this insect doesn’t become easily damaged, allowing for a pretty severe strike.
DO BALD-FACED HORNETS CARRY DISEASE?
The bald-faced hornet is not known for being able to carry disease and spread it to humans through contact. However, a sting from a bald-faced hornet can cause an unpleasant or allergic reaction.
Bald-faced hornets have the ability to sting multiple times, unlike other wasps and hornets, which only sting once. This can increase a person’s risk of having an allergic reaction to a bald-faced hornet sting. Common reactions include swelling, itching, trouble breathing and nausea.
HOW TO DETECT BALD-FACED HORNETS
Signs of a bald-faced hornet issue include:
• The presence of a large, paper-like nest that is shaped like a football • Workers from the colony will be flying around a specific area • Visible damage to nearby wood structures • Aggressive insects matching the physical description of the bald-faced wasp
HOW TO PREVENT BALD-FACED HORNETS
To help protect against bald-faced hornets the following steps should be taken:
• Use painted or pressure-treated wood whenever possible • Address nests when they are just being started • Use pesticide sprays and deterrents to keep bald-faced hornets at bay • Keep trash covered and foliage trimmed back to reduce food sources
HOW TO TREAT FOR BALD-FACED HORNETS
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.
