Page 181 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

BALD -FACED HORNET

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna- 2 6.Thorax HORNETS
2 . E y e s 7 . P e t i o l e 6
3.Head- 3 simple eyes (ocelli) 8.Abdomen- 3 segments 5
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- black with some white
5.Wings- 2 pair 10.Other- builds paper nest 1
Life Cycle
A pulpy nest is created in the spring, where the queen lays several eggs.
The first generation hatches to become female workers. Larvae are fed 8
by the workers several times a day. Males emerge in late summer from 2
unfertilized eggs and mate, the young females then overwinter in soil 7
and start a new colony in the next spring.
Drawing by Andrew Schaible
Actual size 3/4”
HORNETS

Although many wasps exist in North America, the two species most common are Bald Faced
Hornets and Paper Wasps. Bald Faced hornets are actually wasps, and are about 3/4th inch in
size. They are black with white stripes around their thorax and abdomen. They can fly very fast
and are extremely aggressive.

Bald faced hornets create a nest which is gray and round. It ranges from softball to beach ball
size. These nests are made from cellulose and are quite strong. Likely nest locations include
trees, shrubs and around overhangs of buildings. They will defend the location of their nest.

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