Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

Could a Hornet Bee Anymore Annoying? Types of Hornets

Summer may be fading into fall, but your memories of hornets probably aren’t. It seems that every picnic and barbecue has party crashing hornets hanging out around the potato salad. But are you sure you’re dealing with hornets? And if you are, which type?

This article will explore:

• Hornet or Wasp- let’s call the whole thing off!
• Types of Hornets- traveling the globe
• EcoSMART- don’t worry, bee happy!

Hornet or Wasp- let’s call the whole thing off!

First off, it’s important to know that all hornets are a type of wasps. Wasps and hornets are part of the family Vespidae, which also includes yellow jackets.

You know you’re dealing with a wasp and not a bee because of several differences. Wasps can sting multiple times, whereas bees can only sting once (and then die.) Wasps are also aggressive in the summer months and will attack while away from their nest, while bees aren’t usually aggressive away from the nest. Bees aren’t predatory- they pollinate flowers. Wasps, however, feed on other organisms, like caterpillars and ants.

A hornet, while a type of wasp, does differ from the larger Vespidae family. Hornets are part of the genus Vespa (no, not a cute little motorbike.) They are different from wasps in general because they are not native to North America. They were introduced to the East Coast of the United States in the late 1800s and have since become more populous. Hornets are fatter around the middle than most wasps. But they do share the aggressiveness of wasps and the ability to sting multiple times.

Types of Hornets- traveling the globe

Hornets are a small sub-sect of the wasp family. There are three main types of hornets that all differ slightly from each other:

European Hornet

The European hornet is the hornet that inhabits North America. It’s not native to this hemisphere, but was brought over by immigrants in the 1800s. European hornets are the largest wasps in the European wasp classification. The workers, who are females, and also the male European hornets are smaller than their queen, who is usually about 1 -1 1/2 inches long.
They have reddish-orange wings and a yellow body. They are generally larger than most wasps.

Bald Faced Hornet

The bald faced hornet is slightly smaller than the European hornet. It is pretty common in North America nowadays. The bald-faced hornet gets its name because its head is white, giving it the appearance of being bald. But in fact, bald-faced hornets are really only a hornet in name. They are actually more similar to yellow jackets. Their nests are actually visible and not located in high up, hidden places like other hornets.

Asian Hornet

The Asian hornet, which isn’t found in North America, is the granddaddy of all hornets. It is the biggest species of hornet at about 2 inches long. They have huge heads and mandibles, the little pincher looking things on the front of hornets and other insects. Asian hornets prey on other insects, just like other hornets. They are known for their brute strength and ability to wipe out a honey bee colony of 30,000 with only 20 or 30 Asian hornet workers. These hornets, thankfully, haven’t found their way to the Western hemisphere yet. They are found in Eastern Asia, especially Japan, where they are known as the giant sparrow bee.

EcoSMART- don’t worry, bee happy!

So you’ve identified a hornet problem. Now, it’s time to go in for the kill.

There is a proper way to get rid of a hornet nest. Wait for darkness, when they are least active, and use an insecticide to kill the hornets before trying to remove the nest.

When choosing an insecticide, try EcoSMART Wasp and Hornet Killer. It’s made from plant oils, so it’s organic as well as effective. It’s safe to use around kids and pets because EcoSMART doesn’t use synthetic chemicals!