What are Bald-Faced Hornets and How Can You Get Rid of Them?

What are Bald-Faced Hornets and How Can You Get Rid of Them?

As some of the most aggressive pests around, bald-faced hornets can set up shop on your property, whether your home or business. If you’ve ever been stung by a hornet, you know how much it hurts. That’s why it’s crucial to have a professional get rid of the nests so they can’t hurt anyone.

What Are Bald-Faced Hornets?

Bald-faced hornets are actually aerial yellow jackets, and not actually hornets at all. Constructing paper nests made out of wood that they harvest from logs and trees, these nests take on a football-shaped appearance and grow larger with each passing day. Nests can grow up to two feet long, filled with hundreds of worker wasps, but the nests only last about one year. Every fall, the queens fly out of the nest in search of a protected area for the winter, usually under loose bark. Come spring, the queens locate a tree or shrub to begin constructing yet another nest for the year. They will first form a small paper nest inside which will be a paper "comb." This is the place where the queen will raise her first brood of larvae. This brood, consisting of workers, will go out to forage for food, care for the young, defend the whole colony and make the nest bigger.Where are the Nests?
You’ll find the nests on the branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes as high up as 20 feet but usually closer to the ground within about 12 feet. Yes, the bald-faced hornet can make a nest on the side of your home, but it won’t burrow its nest inside vents and under eaves like yellow jackets will.

Getting Rid of These Pests

It’s never a good idea to attempt ridding a nest on your own, as the hornets will aggressively attack and sting anyone that threatens the safety of their area. Big coordinated attacks don’t usually happen until the nest is quite large; however, even small nests can be dangerous. When nests are at their largest, colonies can hold up to 1,000 hornets.

In the event you do get stung, ice the area to keep swelling down. You may experience swelling in the face and other areas or break out in hives if you are allergic to their venom. Get medical attention right away if you have difficulty breathing.

There are some DIY approaches you can attempt on your own, such as leaving dryer sheets on or near tables. They hate the smell. They also dislike the smell of mothballs, cucumbers and cloves. Or, to resemble a nest, hang a blown-up brown paper bag nearby. Hornets are territorial and won’t go near areas where they think another colony has set up shop.

You’re best off hiring a professional to get rid of your bald-faced hornet infiltration. Contact Cavanaugh’s Professional Termite and Pest Services at one of our three locations in Freehold, Flanders and Somerville.

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