Question 1

HOW DO I RECOGNIZE A BALD-FACED HORNET INFESTATION?

Accepted Answer

A bald-faced hornet infestation is clearly identifiable by the presence of a nest. You will find bald-faced hornet nests at least 3’ above the ground and as high as 60’ or more in trees and bushes, and occasionally on lights, fences, and under the eaves of buildings. Nests have a mottled gray paper exterior that can be up to 2’ in length. Bald-faced hornets create this paper covering by collecting and chewing weathered and rotting wood. The wood fiber mixes with their saliva to become a paste similar to paper-mâché that the bald-faced hornet can then form into place. There will also be many bald-faced hornets flying around and near the nest.

Question 2

WHAT DO BALD-FACED HORNETS LOOK LIKE?

Accepted Answer

Bald-faced hornets have long, thin black bodies and a predominantly white-patterned face. The unique ivory-white or yellow face gives the bald-faced hornet its name. There are three white stripes at the end of the bald-faced hornet’s body. They are 5/8” - ¾” in length (queens are larger than ¾” in length). There is a narrow segment between the bald-faced hornet’s thorax and abdomen (thread-waist)

Question 3

ARE BALD-FACED HORNETS DANGEROUS?

Accepted Answer

Yes! There is the same risk of allergic reactions from bald-faced hornet stings as with other wasp stings. A bald-faced hornet’s sting contains venom which can make the stings hurt, itch, and swell for approximately 24 hours. Bald-faced hornets are naturally aggressive and will vigorously defend their hives, stinging repeatedly.

Question 4

WHAT DO BALD-FACED HORNETS EAT?

Accepted Answer

Bald-faced hornets kill flies, many other types of insects, and arthropods then pre-chew and condition the protein before feeding it to their larvae. As the season progresses and there are fewer larvae to feed, the workers feed on nectar, tree sap and fruit pulp, especially apples.

Question 5

WHAT IS THE LIFE CYCLE OF BALD-FACED HORNETS?

Accepted Answer

In the spring, a new bald-faced hornet colony is founded by a single queen that matured and was fertilized at the end of the previous season. The bald-faced hornet queen selects a location for her nest and begins building it with a papery material she makes by chewing up wood mixed with the starch in her saliva. She lays a first batch of eggs and feeds and cares for her first brood of larvae. Once they are functional, this first generation of workers assume the duties of nest building, food collection, feeding the next generations of larvae, and protecting the nest. The queen devotes herself entirely to laying eggs. Bald-faced hornet eggs take 6 days to hatch. Bald-faced hornets are in the larva stage for eight days, then an additional 9–10 days as pupae before maturing into adult workers. The bald-faced hornet colony grows throughout the summer, eventually reaching 100 to 400 workers. At some point, both larvae and reproductives are raised, requiring significant energy by the workers as both depend heavily on solid prey brought in by the workers. After pupation, the drones, and new queens (fertile males and females) fly off to mate. The old queen, males, and workers die before or shortly after the first hard frost. Fertilized queens then overwinter in protected places such as in hollow trees, rock piles, under bark and in the walls and attics of buildings.

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This brazen wasp shamelessly pretends to be a hornet.

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