Quick Facts | |
---|---|
Size | 12-15 mm |
Color | Black with white pattern on face |
Body | Segmented & smooth |
Legs | 6 |
Antennae | Yes |
Stinger | Yes – smooth & able to sting |
Habitat:
- Paper nests
- Prefer trees and places at least 3 feet off the ground
- Nests look like grey, papier-mache basketballs and are completely enclosed
Habits:
- Aggressive and known to sting even if not directly provoked
- Social insects that live in colonies of 60 to 100
- Feed on flies, caterpillars, and spiders
While not actually hornets, Bald-Faced Hornets look like black and white Yellowjackets and are part of the wasp family. They are often quite aggressive and live in large colonies, rebuilding their nests anew each year. They are beneficial for pest control as they like to feed on flies, caterpillars, and spiders.
Bald-Faced Hornets Habitat
The distinctive nest of the bald-faced hornet looks like a grey, papier-mache basketball and can house between 60-100 wasps. The bald-faced hornet prefers to nest in higher areas such as in trees, shrubbery, and bushes but also attach their nests to eaves, sheds, and utility poles. The nests are made of a paper-like material of chewed wood and saliva and can be as big as 24” high and 18” across. Each nest features just a single hole for the hornets to fly in and out and the rest of the nest is completely enclosed. Once the nest has been used for the season, it will be abandoned the following year and the colony will rebuild from new materials.
Bald-Faced Hornets Behaviors
Bald-Faced Hornets are considered to be one of the most aggressive and will attack anyone or anything that they consider to be a threat. Because they have a smooth stinger, they can and will sting more than once unlike other bees and wasps that lose their stingers after one sting. Additionally, it is common for them to sting on the facial areas of humans. Despite being aggressive, Bald-Faced Hornets are still beneficial as pest control because they feed on ants, caterpillars, and spiders though their safety threat often outweighs their benefits.
What To Do If You Think You Have a Bald-Faced Hornets Nest
If you think you have a bald-faced hornet nest on your home or elsewhere on your property, contact The Bug Man and Queen Bee. Do not attempt to remove the nest or disturb the colony in any way as the hornets are extremely aggressive and will sting.
Call or email us today for our bald-faced hornet removal services and our friendly office staff will give you an estimate right away and get you on the schedule as soon as possible, sometimes the next day! Our technicians are equipped with safety equipment and can safely kill the nest and remove the threat. We take great pride in meeting, and exceeding our Milwaukee-area customer’s expectations and are proud to be local and family-owned. Call or email today for your free estimate!