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Quick answer: Bald-faced hornets are large black-and-white wasps that build a distinctive football-shaped gray paper nest in trees, shrubs, and on structures. They aggressively defend the nest and can sting repeatedly. Because the nests are large and the colony reacts en masse, removal is a job best left to a professional with proper protection.
What do bald-faced hornets look like?
Bald-faced hornets are large, roughly 3/4 inch, black with white or ivory markings on the face and tail end. Despite the name they are a type of aerial yellowjacket, not a true hornet. They are strong fliers and, unlike honey bees, can sting repeatedly.
Recognizing the nest
The unmistakable sign is the nest: a gray, papery, football or teardrop shape, often 12 to 24 inches long, hanging from a tree branch, shrub, eave, or structure, with a single entrance hole near the bottom. Steady hornet traffic in and out confirms it is active.
Biology and behavior
A single queen starts the nest in spring, and workers enlarge it through the season. Colonies peak in late summer and fall and become highly defensive — disturbing the nest triggers a coordinated, en-masse defense.
How to deal with bald-faced hornets
Do not knock down, spray casually, or disturb an active nest — this provokes mass stinging. Treatment is safest performed at night, when the colony is inside and least active, with full protective equipment. Given the size of the nests and the aggression of the colony, this is a job for a professional.
When to call a professional
Any active bald-faced hornet nest near a home, walkway, or play area should be handled by a professional — especially if it is large, high, or if anyone in the household has a sting allergy.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Bald-Faced Hornet FAQ
How do I identify bald-faced hornets?
They are large, about 3/4 inch, black with white or ivory markings on the face and end of the body. They are actually a type of aerial yellowjacket, not a true hornet, and build a large gray paper nest.
What does a bald-faced hornet nest look like?
A gray, football or teardrop-shaped papery nest, often 12 to 24 inches, hanging from a tree branch, shrub, eave, or utility structure, with a single entrance near the bottom.
How do you get rid of a bald-faced hornet nest?
Because the colony defends the nest aggressively and can sting repeatedly, treatment and removal are safest done by a professional at night with proper protective equipment. Do not knock down or disturb an active nest.
Are bald-faced hornets dangerous?
Yes. They sting repeatedly and defend the nest as a group, which can be serious for anyone, and especially dangerous for people with sting allergies.
When are bald-faced hornets most active?
Colonies grow through summer and peak in late summer and fall, when nests are largest and the hornets are most defensive.
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