Profile:
Hornets

HORNETS come in many shapes and sizes. And some are just masquerading as hornets.
Have a look at the Hornet Mug Shots below to identify your invader.

Hornets - dos and don'ts | What's your next step? | Hornets nests - what they look like

Bald Faced Hornet

Sprays venom in eyes
o Identified by the white markings on their face, thorax, legs, and abdomen.
o Measures 13mm (0.51 in.) to 20mm (0.79 in.) long; the queen is generally the largest.
o Live in bushes, trees, and around buildings.
o Repeatedly sting victims; stings are very painful.

European Hornet

Stings without warning.
o Yellow faces with black eyes and yellow stripes along abdomen. Reddish colored limbs and part of body.
o Can grow as big as 1.5 inches (38 mm).
o Active day and night.
o Build their nests in hollow trees, barns, out building, and attics.
o Painful stings; can cause itching and swelling for 24 hours.

Asian Giant Hornet

Attack in groups. 2.17 inches (5.5 cm) long.
Asian giant hornets are among the largest species of wasp in the world. They typically have an orange head and a dark thorax with yellow, black and brown bands across their abdomens.
o Length: Female: 2.17 inches (5.5 cm) (Adult or Queen)
o Orange head (from front)
o Abdomen almost entirely dark, with fine yellow stripes and a yellow or orange 4th segment near the base
o Black or brown thorax
o Legs with yellow tips

A social species, they live in colonies and usually build their nests underground and fiercely defend them.

Unlike other species, they attack in groups making them far more dangerous. Their stingers are long and capable of puncturing thick protective clothing like those often worn by beekeepers.

Hornet Moth

Mimics a hornet. The Hornet Moths (pictured) and the similar Lunar Hornet Moth are clearwing moths - a group known for their mimicry of insects that includes bees, ants and wasps. A second glance reveals some giveaway features:
o Furry body
o Two pairs of boldly outlined wings
o Small eyes
o Lack of a defined 'waist'

Hornet Mimic Hoverfly

Mimic of hornet, but harmless to us. The Hornet mimic hoverfly has:
o Waist less defined than in wasps and hornets
o Yellow and brown bands on abdomen
o One pair of wings
o Antennae short and stubby
o Eyes large and round and prominently visible from above

Horntail or Wood Wasp

Looks like large wasp, but harmless to us. The giant horntail or wood wasp female has a long ovipositor at the end of her body, which looks like a stinger. With yellow-and-black bands, the giant horntail looks like a large wasp, but is harmless to us. The female uses her long, stinger-like ovipositor to lay eggs in pine trees, where the larvae then develop. It is confused with the hornet or hornet robberfly.
o More elongate appearance than hornet
o Length: up to 1.6 inches (4 cm)
o The proportionately smaller-looking head is black with a yellow patch on each side
o The end of the abdomen has a strong yellow spike (females also have a long ovipositor)

Regardless of the type of hornet you have:

X - DO NOT approach the hornets or nest.
X - DO NOT knock down the nest.
X - DO NOT plug up the access to the nest - holes you see them going in or coming out of.
YES - DO CALL A PROFESSIONAL ! Contact Busch Brothers Beekeeping / WNY Bee Removal, your local pest control service. Don't delay. Call Jim at 716-578-1812.

That will make them angry and you wouldn’t like to see them angry (think incredible hulk with stingers).

What will happen if you do what I told you NOT TO DO in the bulleted list above?

The problem will get worse, and you and your loved ones are likely to be attacked and stung multiple times.

WHAT'S MY NEXT STEP?

Contact Busch Brothers Beekeeping / WNY Bee Removal, your local pest control service. Hornets can be a challenge to get rid of without getting stung. Their nests can grow to the size of three footballs and their stings are very painful. Busch Brothers Beekeeping / WNY Bee Removal will safely and effectively remove hornets and their imitators. Don’t try to do this yourself.

Hornets are aggressive so warn your family and neighbors about the nest and avoid the area. If you can do so safely, mark the nested tree or area with caution tape to remind everyone to be extra careful. Hornets are often attracted to porch lights. If they are becoming a nuisance, turn off your porch light and only use it when necessary.

Contact Busch Brothers Beekeeping / WNY Bee Removal today! Don't delay.
Call Jim at 716-578-1812.

We will GET RID OF THE HORNETS while taking your loved ones (and pets) into account.

We will GET RID OF THE HORNET'S NEST.

We will work at the right time of day and use the right solution to completely remove the nest and the hornets.

What do Hornets’ nests look like?

A hornets' nest is a paper-like structure made from wood and plants chewed up and spit out by hornets. It looks like it is made out of papier-mâché-like material (also known as paper-mache). The size of a hornets' nest depends on the size of the colony. It can be as large as a basketball and appear. Most nests are shaped like a teardrop and contain one single entrance. See sample images below.

Your next step is to Contact Busch Brothers Beekeeping / WNY Bee Removal, your local pest control service. Don't delay. Call Jim at 716-578-1812.

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