What Hornet Do I Have in my Yard?: Bald Faced Hornets, European Hornets, or Asian Giant Hornets:
Do you have hornets buzzing around your yard, making you terrified to go outside? Wondering if these hornets are bald-faced hornets, European hornets or the dreaded Asian Giant Hornet, aka the “murder hornet”? You’ve come to the right place. Here you can find some helpful tips on identifying what insect is in your yard, as well as what you can do to mitigate the problem.
Hornets vs Wasps
Hornets are typically larger and more aggressive than most species of wasps. Hornet stings are also known to be more painful. The biggest difference between the two, however, is their nests. Hornets live in large, closed off, basketball-sized nests, whereas wasp nests tend to have a more hexagonal shape.
Are there Murder Hornets in Virginia?
No, there are no Murder Hornets in Virginia.
“Murder hornets” are native to Asia. They were briefly spotted in British Columbia and Washington State in 2019, and the nest was destroyed. The Asian Giant Hornet has not been spotted anywhere in the United States except in Washington State. Their population must be controlled because of the implications and devastation they would cause to bee populations. The story of the “Murder Hornets” went viral during 2020, but there have been no actual cases of them outside Washington State. In most cases in the United States, European Hornets are mistaken for Asian Giant Hornets which has caused the media buzz surrounding them.
European Hornets
European hornets are typically yellow-orange with brown and black bands on the abdomen. European hornets are also notable for being one of the few stinging insects to fly at night. These pesky stinging insects are known to attack when they are threatened, or when they feel as if their nests are threatened. While their sting isn’t as powerful as the Asian Giant Hornet, they are still ranked a 2 on the Schmidt pain index, on a scale of 1-4. These are not pests you’d want to mess around with.
Bald-Faced Hornets
Bald-faced hornets are the most likely hornet you will spot in your yard in the Virginia Beach area. These hornets are known for building large, gray paper nests on the side of homes and on trees across the region. These insects are identifiable by their distinctive black and white coloring. Similar to other species of stinging insect, bald faced hornets are very aggressive and will attack when they feel as if their nest is threatened.
Cicada-Killer Wasps
Another insect that is commonly mistaken for the Asian Giant Hornet is the cicada-killer wasp. These are one of the largest species of wasp, identified by their light yellow color and jagged, mountain-range-like black stripes on the abdomen. These wasps will often prey on adult cicadas, hence their name. There are several species of Cicada-killer wasps, with the Eastern Cicada-killer wasp the species most commonly spotted in Virginia. While their sting is not as powerful as the Asian Giant Hornet, these wasps can still cause plenty of damage. Cicada-killer wasps are known to create large underground burrows, which can displace soil in your yard and even raise patio tiles in some instances.
What should I do if I have hornets in my yard?
Whether they be the yellow-orange European hornets or the black and white Bald-Faced hornets, these pests are not something you want on your property. If you have noticed hornets, wasps or any other stinging insects, your best course of action is to contact licensed pest control professionals like Summit Environmental Solutions. We offer hornet nest removal, wasp nest removal and stinging insect control in the Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Hampton Roads area. Contact us at https://www.sespestcontrol.com/virginia-beach/pest-control/