What Is A Hornet?

As the weather continues to warm up, you’ll likely notice more insects pop up in and around your home, including hornets. These large, flying insects are most often known for their impressive nests. Despite their intimidating appearance, hornets play an important role in the ecosystem—but they can be dangerous if left unchecked. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to identify hornets, as well as talk about whether or not hornets sting. We’ll also guide you through the steps to take if you find hornets around your home.

People tend to use the words hornet and wasp interchangeably, but they do have different meanings. While it’s easy to confuse hornets and wasps due to their similar appearance, hornets are a sub-species of wasps. The European hornet is the only hornet species that lives in the United States, and as their name suggests, they originally came from overseas. European hornets are social wasps that live in large, highly organized communal nests. Here are a few ways to differentiate between hornets and wasps:

• Size: Hornets are typically larger than other wasp species, and they can measure up to a little over 2 inches in length. 
• Shape: Hornets have longer abdomens compared to yellowjackets, another sub-species of wasps. 
• Color: Hornets can range in color. Some species are black and white, while others like the European hornet have reddish-brown thoraxes and yellow and black striped abdomens.
• Wings: Hornets have two pairs of wings. The front pair is longer than the hind pair.

Do Hornets Sting?

Yes, hornets can sting. In fact, they’re known for being relatively aggressive, especially if their nest or colony is disturbed. Due to their potent venom, their stings are often described as being more painful than other bee stings. Not only that, but they can inflict multiple stings without losing their stinger. However, hornets generally do not attack humans unless provoked. Leaving hornets and their nests alone is the best way to avoid stings. 

Hornet stings can cause a variety of localized symptoms including:

• Pain
• Redness and swelling
• Itching
• Warmth around the sting site 

In most people, these symptoms are not dangerous. However, people with an allergy to bee stings may experience more severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which may be life-threatening if not treated. 

Do Hornets Pollinate? 

Hornets are not considered primary pollinators like butterflies or bees, but they do play a significant role in pollination for certain plant species. Hornets typically feed on tree sap or other insects like honey bees and grasshoppers. Occasionally, hornets will also visit flowers to feed on nectar, starting the pollination process. 

As they feed on nectar, pollen sticks to their bodies and can be transferred from flower to flower. Over time, some plants have evolved to attract hornets as pollinators. While hornets’ contribution to pollination is relatively minor, these insects play an important ecological role.

While hornets play an important role in our ecosystems, they can become a nuisance, and even dangerous, when they build nests too close to your home. Hornets will typically build nests in high areas including treetops, roofs, decks, and garages. Elevated hornet nests may be free-hanging and may attach to nearby objects such as tree branches. Occasionally, hornets may build their nests in enclosed areas that provide the colony with safety and security. 

While you may be tempted to try DIY solutions, these treatments may not take care of the entire problem. Removing hornets and other stinging insects can put your safety at risk if you aren’t prepared to handle the infestation.  

Don’t put yourself at risk by attempting to remove hornets on your own. Contacting a professional pest control is the best way to ensure you’re taking care of the entire problem, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to enjoy your outdoor spaces without worrying about bee stings.