Bald Faced Hornet Extermination in Seattle Metro Area

Bald Faced hornets, dolichovespula maculate (their scientific name), are actually wasps in the same family as yellow jackets, referred to as hornets because of their larger size, shape and aerial nests. Commonly found in large nests in trees or on the exterior of buildings, these aggressive hornets can become a problem for home and businesses. If you are in need of hornet control in Seattle, Des Moines, Kent, Burien, Renton, or the surrounding areas, or if you encounter a bald-faced hornet nest, contact All-Pro Pest Control today.

All-Pro Pest Control Exterminates Bald Faced Hornets throughout the Seattle Metro Area

Physical Description

Bald-faced hornets are black with large white markings covering the head. Workers and drone hornets range in size from ½ to 5/8 inches in length, while the queen is generally ¾ inch long. The thorax and abdomen are a glossy black with two or three white bands leading to the stinger. These hornets also have two antenna, six legs and smoky, translucent wings. 

Life Cycle

Nest building begins in the spring by one queen born in the previous season. The queen has to chew wood to build the nest, which will be the size of a golf ball and lay the first eggs. Then she continues to chew wood, add on to the nest, lay eggs and when the first eggs hatch she also has to hunt for food to feed the larvae. When the first larvae pupate into adult sterile workers they take over adding onto the nest, foraging for food and tending the eggs and larvae. The queen lives the rest of her life as an egg producer only. The nest grows from spring through the summer and into the fall. The queen produces new queens that mate with males and at the end of season the original queen and male workers and drones die. The newly-hatched and mated queens leave the nest to overwinter in tree stumps, fallen logs, behind siding or in the eves of our homes.

Nests

Bald-faced hornets build large aerial nests that are generally found in trees, on poles, eaves or overhangs, at least three or more feet off the ground. A nest is oblong or football-shaped and it has a papery exterior made from macerated wood and saliva. The outer shell can be as much as two inches thick and by the end of the season can hold up to 700 hornets.

Behavior

Bald-faced hornets are extremely aggressive and will attack to protect the nest, and with smooth stingers, they can sting more than once. The venom transferred from a sting causes pain, itching and swelling that can last for days. When a bald-faced hornet’s nest is disturbed the workers start searching in an ever larger circle for the threat to the nest. We have observed them search an area 20’ wide for the perceived threat. Many homeowners trimming a hedge or shrub are found by Bald-faced hornets rather than the homeowner finding them. The homeowner maybe trimming 10-15’ away from the nest, but the vibrations travel through the shrub to the nest. Suddenly without any notice the homeowner will be set upon by multiple hornets and receive many stings. Those known to be allergic to bee or wasp stings should not approach these nests, even for observation.

Prevention and Extermination

Due to the high number of hornets in a nest coupled with their aggressive nature and multi-stinging capabilities, it is extremely unwise for you to try to remove a nest without the aid of a pest control professional. We suit up and inject the nest directly, then treat the immediate area to take care of the workers that will return from foraging. Once we eliminate the nest and the queen, any workers left are sterile and cannot lay more eggs. That nest will be dead and cannot relocate. For bald faced hornet control in Seattle, Kent, Burien, Des Moines, Renton, or the surrounding metro areas, contact All-Pro Pest Control today!