Bald-Faced Hornet — Identification & Nest Removal

• Body — 18-20 mm, black with white markings on the face, thorax, and abdomen. Larger than yellow jackets.
• Nests — enclosed grey-brown paper structures shaped like a lopsided football or teardrop, hanging from tree branches, high eaves, garage soffits, or outbuilding overhangs. A single small entrance is usually near the bottom.
• Nest size — can reach the size of a basketball or larger by late summer, containing 200-700+ workers.
• Height — most Triangle nests are 3-6 meters up, though we occasionally find them lower on outbuildings and playhouses.

The paper-mache appearance and enclosed shape distinguish bald-faced hornet nests from paper-wasp open combs and from mud-dauber tubes.

The colony starts in spring when a single overwintered mated queen builds the first small nest structure and lays initial eggs. As those workers emerge, they take over construction and hunting, and the queen focuses on egg-laying. Nest size doubles roughly every few weeks through summer, peaking in size and worker count in August and September.

Like other social wasps in NC, the entire colony dies at first hard frost — only newly mated queens overwinter, tucked into leaf litter or under bark, to start next year's colonies. Old nests are not reused; new queens build fresh nests in new locations. This is why prevention is essentially year-to-year rather than site-permanent.

Bald-faced hornets are among the most defensive stinging insects in the Triangle. They will attack anything they perceive as a threat within a substantial radius of the nest — often three meters or more. Unlike honey bees, they can and will sting repeatedly, and coordinated colony defense can inflict many stings in seconds. They can also spray venom from the stinger at eyes, causing temporary blindness or long-term eye damage.

Sting risk categories mirror other stinging insects but the numbers are worse:

• Multiple stings — realistic outcome of any disturbance of a mature nest.
• Known allergy — anaphylaxis risk on a single sting; EpiPen mandatory.
• Children, seniors, pets — smaller mass, harder reactions.
• Eye stings — from venom spray; wash immediately and see an ophthalmologist.

Any disturbance of a bald-faced hornet nest without professional protective equipment is not a reasonable homeowner activity.

Bald-faced hornets prefer sheltered, exposed elevated locations. Common sites in Triangle properties:

• Large mature tree branches — oaks, maples, pines — often 3-6 meters up.
• Under the eaves of two-story homes.
• Attached garage soffits and gable ends.
• Outbuilding and detached shed exteriors.
• Under deck overhangs and second-story balconies.
• Occasionally in dense shrubs at head height — the most dangerous location for accidental encounters.

Wooded lots — Duke Forest, Hope Valley, older Chapel Hill, Umstead-adjacent Raleigh — see the highest bald-faced hornet pressure, but no Triangle neighborhood is immune.

Bald-faced hornet removal is one of the most safety-critical services we provide. The process:

• On-site assessment — nest location, size, height, and approach path. Trees over neighboring properties, near power lines, or over structures need adjusted approach.
• Timing — dusk or after dark when workers are inside the nest, dramatically reducing sting risk.
• Extended-reach application — professional aerosol or dust delivered from a safe distance, in appropriate protective equipment.
• Nest removal after the colony is confirmed dead, if the nest is accessible. Removing the physical nest prevents residual attraction and prevents nest debris from falling on people or property later.
• Follow-up inspection to confirm activity has stopped.

Every removal is scoped with a personalized quote based on nest size, height, and accessibility. Ground-level or low-eave nests are typically simpler; high-branch nests over structures require more equipment.

• Do not throw objects at, spray with a garden hose, or shoot at a bald-faced hornet nest. All of these have caused ER visits.
• Keep children and pets away from any grey enclosed nest until it is confirmed dead.
• Do a spring/early summer walkaround to spot new small nests when they are easier to treat.
• Trim dense shrubs regularly — head-height nests in shrubs are the highest-injury scenario.
• If working outdoors (mowing, tree trimming, gutter cleaning), scan for wasp traffic before starting.
• Anyone with a known wasp allergy should carry an EpiPen year-round.
• If stung once and symptoms are systemic (swelling beyond sting site, breathing difficulty, dizziness), call 911.