Bald-Faced Hornet
Black with white face markings, large grey paper globe nest
Individual
Swarm
Nest / Hive
Wing / Body Pattern
What It Is
Despite the name, the bald-faced hornet is not a true hornet. It is a large yellowjacket relative in the genus Dolichovespula, and one of the more visually striking stinging insects in North America. Present in both SoCal and Nashville. Size: 5/8 to 3/4 inch, visibly larger than a yellowjacket.
How to Identify
The color pattern is distinctive: black body with white or ivory markings on the face, white stripes on the abdomen, and a white tail tip. This black-and-white pattern stands out. Do not expect yellow. The nest is the strongest homeowner identifier. Bald-faced hornets build large, enclosed, football to basketball-shaped paper nests with a gray papery outer shell and no visible cells on the exterior. Nests are typically attached to tree branches, shrubs, or building exteriors. Entrance is at the bottom.
Behavior and Risk
Bald-faced hornets aggressively defend the nest. They will sting repeatedly and maintain an active exclusion zone around the nest that extends further than most stinging insects. Multiple stings. Venom causes significant pain and swelling. Anaphylaxis risk for sensitive individuals. Colony dies in fall. Nests are not reused the following year.
How to Handle
Do not approach the nest. Do not throw objects at it. If the nest is in a low-risk location, high in a tree well away from foot traffic, and late season is approaching, the colony will die naturally in fall without requiring treatment. Contact a pest control company for nests in high-traffic areas or near building entrances.
Bald-faced hornets are black with white markings (not yellow). The large enclosed grey paper globe nest in a tree or attached to a structure is the strongest identifier. Compare with yellowjackets, which are yellow-black with a smaller enclosed nest, often underground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bald-faced hornets dangerous?
They are aggressive defenders of the nest. A nest in a location with regular foot traffic or near a building entrance poses genuine risk. A nest high in a tree away from activity is lower urgency. The colony ends naturally in fall.
Will bald-faced hornets reuse the same nest next year?
No. The colony dies in fall and the nest is not reused. New queens start fresh the following spring and may build in the same area but not in the old nest.
Why is it called a hornet if it is not a true hornet?
Common names for stinging insects are not always scientifically precise. True hornets are in the genus Vespa. Bald-faced hornets are in Dolichovespula, a yellowjacket genus. The size and the enclosed nest earned them the hornet name colloquially.
Does Beecasso remove bald-faced hornets?
Bald-faced hornets are wasps. Contact a licensed pest control company for nest removal. If you are not sure whether you are looking at a wasp nest or a bee colony, send us a photo and we will identify it for free.
Found a large grey nest in a tree. What is it?
A large grey enclosed paper globe nest in a tree is almost certainly a bald-faced hornet nest. Do not approach it. The colony defends an active exclusion zone around the nest. Contact a pest control company.