How to identify them

Despite the name, bald-faced hornets are a type of yellow jacket, not a true hornet. They are larger than typical yellow jackets, black with a distinctive white (“bald”) face and white markings. The signature is the nest: a large, gray, papery, football- or teardrop-shaped structure with a single opening near the bottom, hanging in a tree, shrub, or on a building.

Behavior and biology in South Florida

A queen founds the nest in spring, and the colony grows through summer to a few hundred workers inside the enclosed paper envelope. They hunt insects — including other wasps and flies — making them beneficial, but they are intensely protective of the nest.

Bald-faced hornets will aggressively defend a wide zone around the nest, pursue a perceived threat, and sting repeatedly. Because nests are often high or hidden in foliage, people frequently do not notice one until they are already too close, such as while trimming a hedge or tree.

Signs of an infestation

• A large gray, football-shaped paper nest in a tree, shrub, or on the eaves
• Hornets streaming from a single opening near the bottom of the nest
• Aggressive wasps patrolling an area of the yard
• Nests discovered while pruning, mowing, or working near the roofline

Why they are a problem

Bald-faced hornets are among the most defensive stinging insects, and their large colonies mean many wasps ready to respond at once. A nest near a walkway, play area, or work zone is a serious hazard, particularly for anyone allergic, and their willingness to pursue and sting repeatedly makes DIY removal dangerous.

How Bugsy’s treats bald-faced hornets

Removing an aerial hornet nest requires the right timing, materials, and protective equipment. Our technicians treat and remove the nest safely rather than risking a mass defensive response, and check the surrounding structure and trees for additional nests. We do not recommend homeowners attempt to knock down or spray an active nest.

Preventing bald-faced hornets

• Inspect trees, shrubs, and eaves early in the season for small starter nests
• Keep an eye on dense foliage near walkways and play areas
• Do not prune or work near a nest until it has been professionally handled
• Manage the insects around the yard that hornets hunt
• Call a professional for any established aerial nest rather than approaching it

At a glance

Aerial paper nestVery defensiveStings repeatedlyLarge colony