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Hornets are the largest of the predatory social wasps and bear a resemblance to their close relatives, the yellowjackets. They are differentiated from other vespine wasps by a relatively large cranial vertex and by a rounded abdominal gaster. Most hornet species are found in the tropics of Asia. The European hornet is widely dispersed throughout Europe, Russia, Northeast Asia, and North America. European hornets are the only true hornets found in North America. Bald-faced hornets, also known as white-faced hornets, are native to North America but are not true hornets and are actually a species of yellowjacket wasp. Like other social wasps, hornets will build a gray paper-like nest using plant materials they acquire by stripping bark from trees and shrubs. A hornet nest is usually large and can be found on a tree branch, in a shed, shrub, attic, barn, or on the soffit of a Long Island home. The hornet nest contains one queen, which lays eggs and is attended by female worker hornets that are incapable of laying fertile eggs. A nest typically contains two to four hundred worker hornets who defend the nest and feed on nectar, tree sap, honey, fruit pulp, and any sugar-containing foodstuffs. Worker hornets prey on arthropods and other insects, masticating them and feeding them to the developing hornet larvae.
Female hornets are equipped with stingers that they use to kill their prey and defend their nest. Male hornets called drones do not have stingers. Hornets can repeatedly sting, and their stings are extremely painful because hornet venom contains a high concentration of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Bald-faced hornets have a unique defense in that they can spray venom from their stingers into the eyes of nest intruders causing temporary blindness. When threatened, hornets, like many social wasps, can release an attack pheromone resulting in a human or animal being stung by hundreds of hornets. While a single sting may not inject a lethal dose, multiple stings can be fatal even to people who are not allergic. People who have an allergic reaction to wasp venom may also be allergic to hornet venom. The toxicity of a hornet sting is contingent upon the hornet species. Asian giant hornets stings are among the most venomous and are responsible for thirty to fifty deaths a year in Japan. Asian giant hornets can spray venom into a person's eyes, which can result in a sight-threatening injury. Asian giant hornets, also known as murder hornets, are the world's largest hornets reaching two inches in length. The Asian giant hornet or sparrow hornet is native to Asia and found in parts of Russia. Most recently, the Asian giant hornet has been found in the Pacific Northwest of North America. Asian Giant hornet nests were discovered in British Columbia, Canada, and in the state of Washington in the United States, prompting concern that it could become an invasive species. The Asian giant hornet's predatory habits can be devastating to honey bee colonies. The Asian giant hornets can decimate a honey bee colony in just a few hours. With honey bee populations in decline, the arrival of murder hornets in the Pacific Northwest has caused great concern. Eastern cicada killer wasps, native to Long Island, New York, are frequently mistakenly identified as Asian giant hornets.
Cicada killer wasps have black abdomens with three interrupted bands of yellow that are uneven and jagged. In contrast, Asian giant hornets have many unbroken, alternating bands of brown and orange.
Cicada killer wasps have a dull brown head with a small yellow patch on their face and round eyes, while Asian giant hornets have an orange or yellow head with black eyes.
Cicada killer wasps have an orange thorax, while Asian giant hornets have a dark brown or black thorax.
Getting rid of a hornet nest can be both challenging and hazardous. In the absence of the proper training, equipment, and pesticides, removal of a hornet nest from your Long Island home or business is a project that is destined to fail. Therefore, you should contact the hornet nest removal experts at Long Island Pest Control for professional exterminating services. Our Long Island hornet removal specialists have a vast knowledge of hornet control methods and many years of experience locating and safely removing hornet nests.
