08/06/2026
As necessary as they are…why they gotta be so Mad?!
—Appearance:
Workers are about (12–19 mm) long. Their distinctive white face and white markings on the abdomen make them easy to identify.
—Nests:
They build large, gray, football-shaped paper nests by chewing weathered wood into a pulp. Nests are commonly suspended from tree branches, shrubs, or sometimes attached to buildings, and can grow to nearly 2 feet (60 cm) long by late summer.
—Diet:
Adults feed on nectar and other sugary foods, while they hunt flies, caterpillars, spiders, and other insects to feed their larvae. Because they eat many garden pests, they’re considered beneficial predators.
—Behavior:
Away from the nest they’re usually not interested in people. However, they are extremely defensive if someone comes close to their nest and will attack in groups if they perceive a threat.
—Stings:
Unlike honey bees, they have smooth stingers and can sting repeatedly. For most people, stings are painful but not dangerous, though anyone with a severe allergy to insect stings should seek emergency medical care if stung.
One unusual defense is that bald-faced hornets can spray venom toward the eyes of an attacker in addition to stinging, which can cause intense irritation.
