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For Pest Control Services
Phones answered 24/7
Serving CT & Western MA
The white faced hornet is one of the most dangerous insects we face in the Northeast. They are territorial, aggressive, venomous, and have the ability to sting multiple times without causing themselves harm. Even if you do not have an allergy to wasp venom, experiencing multiple stings can be incredibly painful. There is even more cause for concern when children or pets are nearby as they are more likely to disrupt an unsuspecting nest. Due to the aggressive and unrelenting nature of the white faced hornet, we definitely do not recommend attempting to remove these types of nests on your own.
The white faced hornet, also known as the bald faced hornet, is a variation of the yellow jacket wasp. Yellow jackets can often be mistaken for bees due to their small size and yellow and black coloring. The white faced hornet has white instead of yellow markings, which sets it apart from the yellow jacket.
The white faced hornet is a large species of wasp that can reach over 15 millimeters in length. The queen can reach as much as 20 millimeters. The male white faced hornet will have a white band around the first segment of the abdomen and both males and females will have their abdomen end in a white band. The stinger of the white faced hornet is not barbed as much as a bee’s. This enables the hornet to sting multiple times instead of just once.
The adult white faced hornet will feed on nectar and plant sap. This is gathered from plants surrounding the nesting site. Wood from nearby trees is chewed and used to build the nest that can reach as much as 3 feet in height. As such the white-faced hornet will typically build its nest in a wooded area where plants that produce nectar and sap are plentiful. The nest may be attached to trees, protected inside a shrub or bush, or attached to buildings in areas that are protected from the weather.
The pregnant female, or queen hornet, will start her nest and lay an initial batch of eggs that will hatch and grow into infertile female workers. These workers will take over the task of tending the young. The nest is small at this point and can generally be removed much easier than later in the season. The larvae are fed pre-chewed insects, spiders, and other similar insects by the worker wasps until they reach maturity. The white faced hornet has also been known to take raw meat in place of insects as food for the larvae.
As the season continues, more workers will take over building the nest, and still others will forage food for the colony. The nest will typically reach maturity later in the summer, or early fall. The fertile and pregnant females will hibernate through winter while the workers and males die off leaving the nest abandoned. A new nest is then started by a new queen the following spring. White faced hornets do not reuse the same nest year after year, so once a nest has been abandoned it will stay inactive.
The old, abandoned nest may be used by other wasps and insects, however, so do not assume that any nest is empty. There may be some hornets left that will still protect the nest until their last breath, or the nest may have been taken over by some other insect that that also uses stinging as a defense.
Although the white faced hornet is a member of the same species of wasp as the yellow jacket, they are by far more aggressive. You do not need to actually attack the hornet to induce an attack. Simply bumping the nest or appearing to attack the nest is enough to bring on a full scale attack rather than a few warning stings. The white faced hornet will even attack an observer of the nest should they be perceived as being threatening. This makes them more dangerous than their yellow cousins as it takes very little to provoke them, so children and pets are more likely to be attacked.
The stings from a nest of white faced hornets are very painful and the typical strategies of rolling on the floor are not effective. The only thing to do is run far and fast to get away from the aggravated hornets. There is also the danger that the stung individual will have an allergy to the venom of the hornet, particularly if they have already shown an allergic reaction to the venom of other stinging insects such as bees. If you consider that a full-size nest can contain over four hundred hornets and most of them will swarm and attack in the event of a threat to the nest, it is understandable that a full on attack from a nest of white faced hornets can prove fatal.
The thing with the white faced hornet, as with most wasps and hornets, is to catch it early. You need to find the nest in the early spring and have it professionally removed by Richland Pest and Bee Control before the queen in that nest is able to produce the next generation of queens and the area becomes filled with nests the following year.
After the workers have died off and the queens have gone into hibernation, it is definitely too late and you will have to wait for the next spring when the cycle restarts to dispose of the nests. It is also advisable to clear up any potential food source. Do not leave raw meat lying around and ensure that dustbins are tightly closed to prevent them from being used as a scavenging ground for suitable foods.
It is imperative that you do not attempt to remove even the smallest, most innocuous seeming nest on your own. Most household pesticides are not effective and will simply aggravate the hornets leading them to sting in defense of the nest. The professional exterminators at Richland Pest & Bee Control will have the expertise and the correct equipment to remove the nest safely. When it comes to any kind of wasp or hornet or any other stinging insect, you should always call the experts at Richland Pest and Bee Control to remove and dispose of the nest. There is a good chance that you will be hurt, potentially quite seriously, if you attempt to remove the nest yourself.
Click through the questions below to learn more about white faced hornets control services options from Richland Pest & Bee Control. If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out by contacting us online, or giving us a call at 1-800-308-9126.
White-faced hornets are a type of stinging insect that belong to the hornet family. They are known for their black and white markings and for being aggressive when disturbed.
Signs of a white-faced hornet infestation include seeing a large number of hornets around your property, finding nests or hives, and hearing a buzzing sound coming from inside your walls or ceilings.
The best way to control white-faced hornets is to hire a professional pest control company with experience in dealing with these insects. Our experts use specialized equipment and protective gear to safely remove white-faced hornet nests and apply insecticides to eliminate any remaining hornets.
White-faced hornets can be very dangerous if they feel threatened or if you disturb their nest. They may sting multiple times, which can cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
The best time of year to control white-faced hornets is in the spring or early summer, before the nest has become too large. However, our experts can also remove white-faced hornet nests later in the season if necessary.
Our experts take all necessary precautions during white-faced hornet control treatment to ensure your safety. We may recommend that you stay indoors or keep pets and children away from the treated area until it’s fully dry.
Yes, we offer a warranty on our white-faced hornet control services. If you experience any problems with white-faced hornets within a certain period of time after treatment, we’ll come back and re-treat your property free of charge.
While there are some natural methods for controlling white-faced hornets, such as using insecticidal dust or plugging up holes with steel wool, these methods may not be as effective as targeted treatments using specialized equipment and insecticides. It’s best to hire a professional pest control company with experience in dealing with white-faced hornets to safely and effectively eliminate an infestation.
Getting stung by a white-faced hornet can be very painful and can cause swelling, redness, and itching at the sting site. In some cases, a severe allergic reaction may occur, which can lead to difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, and anaphylaxis.
Treatment for hornet stings may include cleaning the affected area with soap and water, applying a cold compress to reduce swelling, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers or antihistamines. In severe cases, a doctor may prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector or other medication to treat anaphylaxis.
The best spray for white-faced hornets is a professional-grade insecticide that is specifically formulated to kill hornets. It’s important to hire a professional pest control company with experience in dealing with white-faced hornets to safely and effectively eliminate an infestation.
The best way to get rid of white-faced hornets is to hire a professional pest control company with experience in dealing with these insects. Our experts use specialized equipment and protective gear to safely remove white-faced hornet nests and apply insecticides to eliminate any remaining hornets. Depending on the severity of the infestation and the location of the nests, the treatment may involve physical removal, vacuuming, or chemical treatments. Preventative measures, such as sealing up entry points and keeping outdoor areas clean and free of food debris, can also help to deter hornets from nesting in the first place.