Bald Faced Hornets

Identification

Size: Approximately 1.3 to 1.9 cm or 0.5 to 0.75 inches in length

Color: black in color with white or ivory markings on their face, thorax, and the tip of their abdomen.

Description: The Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is a large species of wasp native to North America. Despite its name, the bald-faced hornet is not a true hornet but rather a type of yellow jacket wasp. Bald-faced hornets are social insects that live in colonies, with each colony typically containing hundreds of individual wasps.

Bald-faced hornets are known for their impressive nest-building skills. Their nests are constructed from chewed wood fibres mixed with saliva, which gives the nest a papery texture. These nests can be quite large, measuring up to 14 inches (35 cm) in diameter and containing up to 700 individual wasps. Bald-faced hornet nests are typically built in trees, shrubs, or on the sides of buildings and can sometimes be found hanging from eaves or awnings.

Despite their aggressive behaviour and painful sting, bald-faced hornets actually play an important role in their ecosystem. As predators, they help control populations of insects such as flies, caterpillars, and spiders.

In the fall, the colony of bald-faced hornets will die off, with only the new queens surviving through the winter. These queens will emerge in the spring and start new colonies. Bald-faced hornets are a fascinating and important part of the ecosystem. While they can be intimidating, they generally prefer to avoid conflict with humans and will only sting if they feel threatened or their nest is disturbed.

Bald-faced hornets are also relatively easy to distinguish from other wasps and hornets. They can be differentiated from other yellow jackets by their black and white coloration and their larger size and their more aggressive behaviour. Bald-faced hornets also build distinctive paper nests that are often found hanging from trees or buildings. These nests are gray in colour and can be quite large, measuring up to 14 inches (35 cm) in diameter.

Overall, if you see a large black and white wasp-like insect with a distinctive nest nearby, it’s likely a bald-faced hornet. However, it’s important to be cautious around these insects, as they are known for their aggressive behaviour and painful sting. If you suspect you have a bald-faced hornet nest on your property, it’s best to contact a professional pest control service for removal.

One of the most obvious signs that you may have bald-faced hornets on your property is the presence of their distinctive papery nests. These nests are often located in trees, shrubs, or on the sides of buildings and can be quite large and visible. They are gray in colour and are often shaped like a teardrop or football.

Other signs of bald-faced hornets include a high number of flying insects around your property, especially if they are black and white in colour. You may also notice bald-faced hornets flying to and from a particular area, which could indicate the location of their nest.

Preventing bald-faced hornets from establishing a nest on your property is the best way to avoid any potential problems. Here are some steps you can take to prevent bald-faced hornets:

Keep your property clean: Bald-faced hornets are attracted to food, so it’s important to keep your property clean and free of any potential food sources. This includes keeping trash cans tightly closed and removing any fallen fruit from trees.
Seal openings: Check for any openings in your home, such as gaps in the siding, holes in the roof, or cracks around windows and doors, and seal them up. This will prevent bald-faced hornets from entering and building a nest inside your home.
Trim trees and shrubs: Bald-faced hornets often build their nests in trees and shrubs, so it’s a good idea to keep them trimmed and well-maintained. This will make it less likely for bald-faced hornets to establish a nest on your property.