The White Faced Hornet vs. The Japanese Hornet
November 5th, 2009 Posted in Stinging Insects 
The white faced hornet is a fairly common species of hornet in the United States. The only uncommon thing about them is that they’re black and white, as opposed to the typical yellow and black hornet.
The giant Japanese hornet is quite common throughout the islands of Japan. The one unique thing about this species of hornet is that they’re huge compared to all other species of wasps, bees, and hornets. So, who would win in an all out battle? You will know soon enough.
This article will highlight:
The White Faced Hornet
Found throughout the United States, but most commonly throughout the southeast. The white face hornet is also commonly known as the bald-faced hornet, the black hornet, and the black wasp.
They are well-known for their football size paper nests, that tend to pop up in trees all throughout the spring. Some of these nests have been known to reach up to 3 feet tall and like most species of hornets and wasps they’re extremely protective of them.
If they feel as though they’re being threatened they will sting repeatedly and in large groups. The hornet has been known to kill numerous types of small animals that happen to stumble upon their nest, mostly because they defend in large numbers.
For example, a bird may be able to take on about 50 hornets, but the sting of 50 hornets would bring it to the ground. Let alone, 30,000 stings from every member of the hornet nest.
The Japanese Hornet
This species of hornet is found throughout Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Indochina, India, and most of Eastern Asia. The Japanese Hornet is also known as the Asian giant hornet and the yak-killer hornet.
They are the largest species of hornet in the entire world and thus so reek havoc on other species of insects, but particularly other species of bees, wasps, and hornets. They are literally bred for war; they have tough abdomens and strong pincers, ready to chomp down a victim at all times.
Like their relatives, the Japanese hornet has a vicious stinger, used mostly in defense. Once they discover a food source, they become the hornets from hell. They release a pheromone marking the food source for their brethren to come in packs. Known as omnivores, their food sources range anywhere from honey to insects.
Who Would Win In A Battle?
I think the winner is obviously the Japanese hornet, hands down. With their brutal strength and numbers they can easily overpower a regular size white faced hornet. A typical bee hive or hornets nest has anywhere between 10,000 to 30,000 members, easily out numbering most foes, including the Japanese hornet.
Yet, in this case strength and size outweighs numbers again and again. Because they are 5 times the size of a typical hornet and can cut a hornet in half with their pincers, the white faced hornet doesn’t stand a chance.
It’ll take 10 Japanese hornets about 3 hours to utterly destroy a hornets nest or bee hive, killing all of its members and taking the hive’s food. The white faced hornets will be able to kill a couple of the Japanese hornets with their numerous stings, but not enough to save their nest.
Don’t believe me? Take a peak for yourself of about 30 Japanese hornets kill 30,000 European honey bees in about 3 hours, once again illustrating the victor in this grand battle of hornets.
Control of Both Hornets
Whether you live in the United States and deal with the white faced hornets or live in Asia and deal with the Japanese hornets, there’s one major way to deal with them invading your property, EcoSMART’s organic pesticides. Everyone is bothered by insects at one time or another and there needs to be a safe way to deal with them.
EcoSMART’s products are safe for the environment and safe for your family. Thus you can spray our chemical free pesticides to end your bug problems and at the same time not worry about hurting anything, but the pests.
1 Comment | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By Clare Brannigan on Nov 12, 2009
We have a large Hornets nest. We’ve asked them to go but they refused! Can only find chemical spray so would love to test your eco-spray.