Your Complete Guide to a Bald Faced Hornet Nest

Finding a large, papery nest hanging from a tree or the side of your house can be unsettling. You might be looking at a bald faced hornet nest. These structures, while impressive, house insects known for their aggressive nature. Understanding what you’re dealing with is the first step toward safely managing the situation. A bald faced hornet nest can grow to the size of a basketball and contain hundreds of workers ready to defend their home.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover how to identify a bald faced hornets nest, understand the life cycle of the colony, and explore the risks involved. Most importantly, we will discuss safe methods for removal, including when to call a professional. Knowing how to handle these pests is key to keeping your family and property safe.

Key Takeaways

• Bald-faced hornets are technically a type of yellow jacket, not true hornets.
• Their nests are made of a paper-like material created from chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva.
• Nests start small in the spring and can grow to the size of a basketball or larger by late summer.
• These insects are highly aggressive and will sting repeatedly if they feel their nest is threatened.
• Attempting to remove a bald face hornet nest yourself is dangerous. Professional help is almost always recommended.
• Nests are annual and the colony (except for new queens) dies off in the winter. An old nest will not be reused.

What is a Bald Faced Hornet?

Before we dive into the nest, let’s get to know the builder. The bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is not a true hornet. It’s actually a large species of yellow jacket. They get their name from the distinctive white or “bald” markings on their faces. Their bodies are mostly black with white bands on the abdomen.

These insects are larger than most other yellow jackets. Workers typically measure between 15 to 20 millimeters long. Queens are even larger. Unlike bees, bald-faced hornets have smooth stingers. This means they can sting a target multiple times without injuring themselves. This ability, combined with their aggressive defense of the nest, makes them a significant threat to people and pets who get too close.

The Social Structure of the Colony

A bald faced hornet nest is a highly organized society. The colony consists of a single queen, female workers, and, later in the season, males (drones) and new queens. The initial queen is the founder of the nest. She survives the winter and starts building the nest and laying eggs in the spring.

The first brood of eggs hatches into sterile female workers. Their job is to expand the nest, forage for food, feed the larvae, and defend the colony. The queen then focuses solely on laying more eggs, expanding the colony’s population throughout the summer. A mature colony can have between 100 and 700 workers, all fiercely protective of their home and queen.

Identifying a Bald Faced Hornet Nest

Spotting a bald faced hornet nest is usually straightforward due to its unique appearance and location. These nests are aerial, meaning they are built above ground. You will commonly find them hanging from tree branches, in dense shrubs, or attached to man-made structures like the eaves of a house, utility poles, or under decks.

The nest itself is a remarkable piece of insect architecture. It’s constructed from a papery material made by the hornets. They chew wood fibers from logs, fences, or even cardboard and mix it with their saliva to create a paste. They then spread this paste in layers, which dries into a durable, weather-resistant shell. The color is typically a mottled gray. Early in the spring, the nest might be the size of a golf ball, but by the end of summer, it can easily be larger than a basketball. A single, small hole at the bottom serves as the entrance and exit for the entire colony.

Bald Faced Hornet Nest vs. Other Stinging Insects

It’s easy to confuse a bald faced hornet nest with the homes of other stinging insects. Knowing the difference is crucial for determining the right course of action.

Feature	Bald Faced Hornet Nest	Paper Wasp Nest	Honey Bee Hive
Appearance	Large, gray, enclosed paper ball	Open, umbrella-shaped with visible cells	Typically inside a cavity; may be exposed wax comb
Location	Hanging from trees, eaves, shrubs	Under eaves, on railings, in open pipes	Tree hollows, wall voids, beekeeper boxes
Material	Chewed wood fiber (paper)	Chewed wood fiber (paper)	Beeswax
Size	Can exceed a basketball	Usually a few inches across	Can be very large
Visibility of Cells	No visible cells from outside	Cells are open and visible	Cells are visible on comb

The Dangers Associated with a Bald Faced Hornets Nest

The primary danger of a bald faced hornets nest is the aggressive nature of its inhabitants. These insects have a wide “threat zone” around their nest. Simply walking too close, mowing the lawn nearby, or accidentally bumping a branch the nest is on can trigger a massive defensive response.

When they attack, they do so in large numbers. Unlike honey bees that can only sting once, bald-faced hornets can sting repeatedly. Their venom is potent and causes immediate, sharp pain, followed by swelling and redness. For most people, a few stings are painful but manageable. However, for individuals allergic to wasp venom, even a single sting can lead to anaphylaxis—a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention. The risk of multiple stings increases the amount of venom injected, which can be dangerous even for those without a specific allergy.

When Is a Nest a Problem?

Not every bald faced hornet nest requires immediate removal. If a nest is located high in a tree far from your home and any areas you frequent, it might be possible to leave it alone. The hornets are beneficial predators that eat other garden pests. The colony will die off naturally in the winter.

However, a nest becomes a significant problem when it is close to human activity.

• Nests near doorways, walkways, or decks.
• Nests in shrubs or trees in a yard where children or pets play.
• Nests attached to the siding or eaves of your house.
• Nests near playgrounds or public spaces.

In these situations, the risk of accidental encounters and stings is too high. Removal becomes necessary for safety.

How to Get Rid of a Bald Faced Hornet Nest

When you’ve decided a nest must go, your first and most important decision is whether to do it yourself or call a professional. Given the dangers, professional removal is the recommended path for most situations.

Why You Should Call a Professional

Pest control experts have the training, specialized equipment, and protective gear to handle a bald faced hornet nest safely and effectively. They can correctly identify the pest and choose the most appropriate treatment method. Professionals use commercial-grade insecticides that are more effective than what’s available to consumers. They also understand hornet behavior, such as the best time of day to treat the nest to ensure the entire colony is neutralized. Trying to remove a large, active nest on your own can result in a swarm attack with potentially severe consequences.

DIY: How to Remove a Bald Faced Hornet Nest (With Caution)

If you decide to proceed with a DIY approach, you must take extreme precautions. This method should only be attempted on very small, newly formed nests (no larger than a tennis ball) that are easily accessible.

Important Steps for DIY Removal:

1. Timing is Everything: Treat the nest late at night or very early in the morning. At this time, the hornets are inside the nest and are less active.
2. Wear Protective Gear: At a minimum, wear a full bee suit with a veiled hood, thick gloves, and boots. Tuck your pants into your socks and your sleeves into your gloves. Never attempt this in regular clothing.
3. Choose the Right Product: Use a foaming aerosol wasp and hornet killer spray designed for this purpose. These sprays have a long reach, allowing you to stand at a safe distance.
4. Plan Your Escape: Before you start spraying, make sure you have a clear, unobstructed path to get away quickly.
5. Spray the Nest: Stand at a safe distance (as far as the spray will reach) and direct the foam into the entrance hole at the bottom of the nest. Spray continuously for the recommended time to saturate the inside.
6. Leave and Observe: After spraying, leave the area immediately. Do not return to the nest until the next day. Observe it from a safe distance to see if there is any activity. If you still see hornets, you may need to re-treat it the following night.
7. Remove the Nest: Once you are certain all hornets are dead, you can knock down the nest with a long pole and dispose of it.

Disclaimer: Attempting to remove a bald face hornet nest on your own is extremely dangerous. The safest option is always to contact a licensed pest control professional.

Preventing Bald Faced Hornets Nests

While you can’t completely prevent hornets from choosing your property, you can make it less attractive to them. Prevention is about limiting ideal nesting spots for the overwintering queen in the spring.

• Seal Entry Points: In the fall, inspect your home for gaps and cracks. Seal any openings around rooflines, vents, and utility pipes where a queen might enter to hibernate for the winter.
• Maintain Your Yard: Trim back dense shrubs and tree branches, especially those close to your house. This reduces the number of sheltered, appealing locations for a queen to build her nest.
• Early Detection: In the spring (April and May), keep an eye out for small, new nests. A nest the size of a walnut is much easier and safer to deal with than a fully developed one. You can often knock these down with a long pole or spray them with a hornet killer from a safe distance.

By being proactive, you can significantly reduce the chances of a large, dangerous bald faced hornet nest establishing itself on your property.

Conclusion

A bald faced hornet nest is a complex structure built by an aggressive insect. While these creatures play a role in the ecosystem, their nests are a serious hazard when located near homes and people. Identifying the nest correctly, understanding the risks, and knowing when to call for help are essential. Professional pest control services offer the safest and most effective solution for how to remove a bald faced hornet nest. If you encounter one of these gray, papery orbs, keep a safe distance and contact an expert to ensure the problem is handled without anyone getting hurt.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens to a bald faced hornet nest in the winter?
The nest is abandoned. The entire colony, including the old queen and all workers, dies off with the first hard freezes. Only newly mated queens survive. They find a sheltered place to hibernate for the winter and start new nests the following spring. The old nest is not reused.

Q2: How long does it take for a bald faced hornet nest to get big?
A nest grows surprisingly fast. A queen starts a small nest in the spring, often the size of a golf ball. As the colony grows throughout the summer, the nest can reach the size of a football or basketball by August or September.

Q3: Can bald-faced hornets sting through clothing?
Yes, they can. Their stingers are long and sharp enough to penetrate regular clothing like t-shirts and jeans. This is why specialized, thick protective gear is essential when dealing with them.

Q4: I found an old, empty bald faced hornet nest. Is it safe to handle?
Yes, a nest collected in the late fall or winter is generally safe to handle. The colony will be dead. You can leave it outdoors for a few weeks to ensure any remaining insects or larvae are gone before bringing it inside for display. The paper structure itself is fragile but poses no danger.

Q5: Are bald-faced hornets attracted to anything in my yard?
Adult bald-faced hornets feed on sugars like flower nectar and fruit juices. They also hunt other insects (like flies and caterpillars) to feed to their larvae. Open garbage cans, sugary spills from drinks, and gardens with lots of insect activity can attract them.