If you’re new to New England or even if you’re not, there’s a few things you should know about Hornets. We have several kinds of hornets here in our area with the most common known as the bald faced hornet. Additionally, as anyone in New England knows, hornet nest removal becomes essential at some point in time.
What You Should Know About Hornets
First and foremost, bald faced hornets are more closely related to yellow jackets than they are to hornets. It is distinguished by its mostly white “baldfaced” head and three white stripes on the end of its abdomen. This type of hornet is known for their large football-shaped paper nest. These nests, which are some of the largest built by any wasp, can be up to 14 or more inches in diameter and 23 inches in length. The hornet population of a nest varies from 100 to 700, averaging around 400. Bald-faced hornets are protective of their nests will aggressively attack with little provocation. Undoubtedly, understanding the aggressive nature of bald faced hornets is one of the things one should know about hornet nest removal as well.
Additionally, European or Giant Hornets are also common in the New England area. These giant hornets closely resemble the bald-faced hornet. Giant European hornets grow up to one inch long, and look like giant yellow jackets, with a stout body, but colored yellow, brown and black. The giant European hornet is bigger than the bald faced hornet and seems to prefer building nests in rotting trees. Because hornets eat mostly other insects, the workers look for caterpillars, sawflies and other soft-bodied insects. They also feed on honeydew, fruit and other sugary foods, carrion and garbage.
Finally, hornet nests get larger as the summer progresses and nests located near or inside a home may be extremely dangerous to humans. As a result, homeowners should know a few things about hornet nest removal to keep their home and family safe.
What You Should Know About Hornet Nest Removal
Hornets have a key role in the ecosystem because they help control other insect populations. However, hornets are also a hazard once they start building nests around your property. For example, things as subtle as minor residue in trashcans possibly attract hornets because they seek sweet, sugary foods. As a rule of thumb, rinse out any food containers before you place them in the trash or recycling, and never leave open drink containers outdoors.
Additionally, outdoor features like fencing and shrubs also look like good spots for a hornet nest because they offer a dependable source of materials. For instance, hornets start constructing their paper nests on branches and under eaves, scavenging your property for scraps in the spring. Outdoor hornet nests may have an “envelope” covering the front; if the nest is sheltered by an eave – the “envelope” will be absent or smaller in size. Unfortunately, hornet nests don’t simply disappear when winter arrives. Instead, hornets wait underneath tree bark, in a rotten log, in small crevices or underneath siding.
With these habits in mind, certain factors clearly point to an infestation and call for professional hornet exterminator services:
- Spotting large worker hornets around your property.
- Seeing nests in trees, near or around your porch, in your attic or wall voices.
- Hornets scraping away thin layers of wood from your fence, porch, logs, unpainted lumber or other sources of unvarnished wood on your property.
At Eliminate ‘Em, we always recommend an expert opinion when it comes to hornet nest removal. Hornets are extremely aggressive and will attack if you get too close to their territory, which puts people with allergies in serious danger. To remove hornet nests from your property, we provide professional hornet pest control services which include:
- Educating you about hornet habits and why hornet nest removal is a must. The materials may later turn into a haven for other pests, leading to another infestation down the road.
- Removing the hornets after finding all nests on your property.
- Providing information for preventing future hornet infestations, including where to place and how to trim bushes and trees.
Pest professionals like Eliminate ‘Em should be consulted before attempting to treat any hornet infestation, especially hornet nest removal. Hornets are typically aggressive, and some individuals may be allergic to their sting.
Call (866) 906-9070 for Hornet Nest Removal Today!
