A common hornet found in Texas is the bald-faced hornet. Particularly as the colony population increases, the hornets are potentially dangerous. Because of the high risk, we at A Five Star Termite & Pest Control would like to elaborate on the fundamentals regarding bald-faced hornets in an effort to help you avoid their vicious stings.
What Does the Nest of a Bald-Faced Hornet Look Like?
Greatly resembling paper, the bald-faced hornet will build their nests out of cellulose materials together as social insects. Because of their coloring and size, bald-faced hornets, also called white-faced hornets, are often mistaken for bees; but these insects are actually more closely related to yellow jackets. Used to primarily raise their young, the bald-faced hornet has sphere-shaped paper-like nests that can reach up to 3 feet tall and are constructed in spring. These hornets are found all over North America but have more concentrated numbers in southeastern states. Bald-faced hornets, like yellow jackets, have a weakness for meats and included harvested nectar and pollen from flowering plants in their diet in addition to soft bodied like aphids and caterpillars. From branches, plant, wood fences, and housing materials, a queen collects wooden fibers to construct the beginning of the nest in spring to begin to raise the colony. The queens suspend the nest most commonly off of tree limbs as well as from buildings, especially around the eaves. Averagely speaking the nests resemble shape and size of a basketball. Mixed with saliva and the layers of chewed wooden fibers, within the nest paper-like cells, which looks like a honeycomb are built.
Are Bald Faced Hornets Social Insects?
As mentioned, bald-faced hornets are social insects and within their large colony, they have drones, a queen, and workers. Each caste has specific tasks that contribute to supporting the colony. When the queen is receptive to fertilization, the drones, or reproductive males, are at the ready to mate, after which the queen will get to work on laying hundreds of eggs. By doing everything else, such as foraging food, building the nest, and caring for the young, drones, and queen for example, the workers ensure the survival of the colony. Bald-faced hornets are especially active in late summer and assist mildly to pollination as they visit various flowers to collect the nectar.
Can a Bald Faced Hornet Sting Multiple Times?
Unlike bees, these hornets can deliver multiple stings without losing their stinger that only the females have. They attack first any posing threat that dangers the colony because their primary goal is protecting the nest. Because the females have the stingers, they are usually the ones spied patrolling outside the nest and if a perceived threat is seen they sting unmercifully. Because a venom is injected from the stinger, people often experience varying degrees of an allergic reaction or sensitivity, ranging from mild to severe. People will also commonly note discomfort or pain.
Stinging Insect Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
Because of their quick rate reproducing, their ability to sting multiple times, and the risk to health, it is important to remove the nests for safety. To get it done safely and effectively, call A Five Star Termite & Pest Control
as soon as possible and let our qualified technicians remove the threat for you. .
