What Does a Bald Faced Hornet Look Like?
The bald-faced hornet has white marks across its face, making it appear “bald”, and giving it its name. It’s not really a hornet, but a wasp – and instead of yellow and black coloring, the bald-faced hornet is mostly black and white, helping to identify them from other wasps. The bald-faced hornet has three white stripes on their bodies and is about 3/4 of an inch in length, making them larger than the average hornet.
Where Do Bald Faced Hornets Nest?
This hornet is primarily found in the southeastern state of the U.S., the most western and eastern coasts of the United States as well as in Canada and the Rocky Mountains.
Nests are most often found in bushes and trees, although you can sometimes find bald-faced hornet nests under rock overhangs. They tend to look for places that are between three and 65 feet above the ground to build their nests.
How Do Bald Faced Hornets Build Their Nests?
Their nests are hanging, egg-shaped paper nests of about 23 inches in length created from collecting and chewing naturally occurring fibers. When the wood fibers mix with their saliva, it creates a pulpy substance they can shape and create their nest from.
What Do Bald Faced Hornets Eat?
Larvae and adult bald-faced hornets consume different diets. Adult bald-faced hornets consume juices and nectar (sugary liquids) from flowers and other sources, but they will bring solid foods, including other insects and carrion, for their larvae to eat.
Are Bald Faced Hornets Dangerous?
Bald-Faced Hornets are dangerous. Each colony of bald-faced hornets can contain between 100 and 400 worker bees who will aggressively defend their nest by stinging invaders repeatedly. Bald-faced hornets have smooth stingers full of venom making it possible for them to deliver painful stings over and over again. For 24 hours after a sting, the area will itch and may swell.
Due to the species aggression over protecting their nests, it is not a good idea to attempt removing a bald faced hornet nest if you are not professionally trained to do so. If you are allergic to bees or other insect stings, you may also be allergic to bald-faced hornets.
How Does Innovative Pest Control Eliminate Bald Faced Hornets?
Innovative Pest Control offers pest control solutions in Tyler and East Texas for the majority of stinging insects including bald faced hornets. We recommend that you call our trained team of professionals to eliminate your bald-faced hornet infestation safely rather than putting yourself, family, and pets at risk by trying to get rid of your stinging insect problem yourself. Bald faced hornet control can be accomplished during the day, but we often prefer to treat at night to ensure more of the hornets are at “home” in their nest during the time of treatment. We will not use a flashlight, nor should you, if treating bald-faced hornet infestations at night because the hornets will follow the beam of light from the nest directly to the holder of the flashlight and attack! For more information and to schedule our stinging insect pest control services, give us a call to schedule an appointment!
