When a small buzzing insects with a stinger comes near, most people want to run away as quickly as possible. However, if they have made your home their home, then you will want to know how to get rid of them as soon as possible. Hornets, bees (Learn how to keep bees) and wasps (Tips on how to get rid of wasps) are often confused for each other, and while they do share some characteristics, you should first identify what insect you are dealing with so that you can take the proper steps to send them on their way.
About Hornets
There are about twenty different species of hornets, most of which come from the tropical areas of Asia. There is also a European hornet, which prefers more temperate areas. The European variety was accidentally brought to North America and is now found throughout the eastern states. Hornets are actually a variety of wasp. They belong to the genus Vespa, which is a member of the subfamily Vespinae. To know if you are dealing with a hornet, you will want to check out the vertex. This is the part of its head that is behind the eyes. A hornet has a larger vertex than other vespines. A hornet or wasp isn’t as “hairy” as a bee, and usually is a little bigger. It is actually pretty difficult to tell what insect you are dealing with unless you get quite close, and most people would rather stay back. The good news is that hornets tend to attack other insects rather than hanging out where humans can run into them. Unlike yellowjackets who hang out around trash bins and playground equipment, hornets build their nests in shrubs, trees, and under eaves so you are less likely to accidentally disturb them. Hornets, particularly the European species, have a very bad reputation. Many people think that they are mean and dangerous, but this is really not true. Hornet stings are not any more dangerous than wasp stings. Also, they are generally less aggressive than wasps. The only time they become aggressive is when they are provoked or their nest is in danger.
Hornet Nests
So how can you identify a hornet’s nest to make sure you stay far away? Nests are an integral part of the life cycle. The queen, who is a fertilized female, starts the nest in the spring. She finds a good location that is sheltered, such as a tree trunk or a bush. She will build the first cell of the nest out of chewed bark. Cells are built in layers which are called combs. The queen lays an egg into each cell. In about a week the egg hatches. Later, the larva will spin a silk layer on top of the cell, closing it off. The larva will then undergo metamorphosis and change into an adult hornet. Once she is an adult, she’ll eat through the silk cap. All these initial hornets will be females. They will then take over all of the queen’s duties, such as building the nest and finding food. The queen, however, is the only one who will lay eggs. New combs are built by this first generation, as well as an outside envelope which is built around the cell layers. Eventually the entire nest becomes covered. A finished nest is large, gray and appears to be made out of paper although it is actually chewed bark and saliva. Once the nest is finished, the queen will also produce drones, which are male hornets. Their only job is to go on mating flights in mid-autumn. After they mate, they die. By late autumn, most of the workers and queens have also died. It is only the fertilized queen who can live through the winter.