Hornets vs Wasps: Which Is More Dangerous?
Short answer: hornets can be more dangerous than most wasps, but not for the reason most people think. Their size, their larger colonies, and how hard they defend a nest are what make them risky. The twist is that most of the “hornets” Tennessee homeowners see aren’t true hornets at all. Here’s how to tell them apart and what to do about a nest.
Hornet vs. Wasp: What’s the Difference?
All hornets are wasps, but only a small group of wasps are true hornets: the species in the genus Vespa. Only one of them has long been established in the eastern United States, the European hornet, which arrived from Europe in the 1800s.
The black-and-white “bald-faced hornet” that builds gray paper nests in trees isn’t a true hornet. It’s an aerial yellowjacket that happens to carry the hornet name.
How to Tell Them Apart
- European hornet: about an inch long, with a reddish-brown head and thorax and a yellow-and-brown abdomen. Nests are usually hidden in hollow trees or wall voids. Unlike most stinging insects, they fly at night and are drawn to lights.
- Bald-faced hornet: smaller, about 5/8 to 3/4 inch, black with ivory-white markings on the face. Builds gray, football-shaped paper nests in trees, shrubs, and sometimes under eaves.
- Yellowjackets: small, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch, yellow and black. They’re among the more aggressive wasps, defending their colony vigorously and stinging repeatedly.
- Paper wasps and red wasps: slender wasps with long legs that build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves, porch ceilings, and deck railings.
For a full lineup, see the types of wasps in Tennessee and hornets in Tennessee.
So Which Is More Dangerous?
It depends less on the name and more on the nest. A few things make hornets and their look-alikes a bigger risk:
- They can sting more than once. Unlike honey bees, hornets and wasps don’t leave their stinger behind, so a single insect can sting repeatedly.
- More venom per sting. European hornet venom is reported to be a little less toxic than honey bee venom, but a hornet delivers more of it.
- Big colonies defend hard. By late summer, a European hornet nest can hold hundreds to more than a thousand hornets, and bald-faced hornets and yellowjackets will attack in numbers when a nest is disturbed.
- Hidden nests lead to surprises. Nests tucked in wall voids, hollow trees, or shrubs are easy to bump into by accident.
For anyone allergic to stings, any wasp or hornet can be dangerous. Trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat after a sting is a medical emergency, so call 911. Our insect sting index compares the pain and risk of common Tennessee stings.
Do Hornets Eat Honey Bees?
Yes. European hornets don’t collect pollen or nectar for their young. They hunt other insects, including large ones like honey bees, often waiting near hive entrances to catch returning bees.
You may have heard about “murder hornets” wiping out beehives. That species, the northern giant hornet, has only been found in the Pacific Northwest, not in Tennessee.
Why Are Hornets Hitting My Windows at Night?
That’s almost certainly a European hornet. They’re one of the few stinging insects that fly after dark, and they’re attracted to light, so they often bump against lit windows and porch lights. Switching porch lights to warm or yellow bulbs, or turning them off, can help.
What to Do About a Hornet or Wasp Nest
- Keep your distance. Don’t swat at the nest, spray it from close range, or knock it down. That’s how most mass stings happen.
- Keep kids and pets away until the nest is handled.
- Call a professional for big or hidden nests, especially ones in wall voids, high in trees, or near doors and play areas.
Our wasp and hornet control handles hornet, yellowjacket, and wasp nests of any size, and our general pest control includes removing wasp nests within reach on every visit.
Hornets vs. Wasps FAQs
Are hornets more dangerous than wasps?
Often, yes. Hornets are larger, live in bigger colonies, and defend their nests aggressively, and they can sting more than once. But many Tennessee “hornets,” like the bald-faced hornet, are actually yellowjackets, and any stinging insect can be dangerous to someone who’s allergic.
What’s the difference between a hornet and a wasp?
All hornets are wasps, but true hornets belong to the genus Vespa. The only one long established in the eastern U.S. is the European hornet.
Is a bald-faced hornet a real hornet?
No. Despite the name, the bald-faced hornet is an aerial yellowjacket, not a true hornet.
Do hornets eat honey bees?
European hornets do. They hunt large insects, including honey bees, to feed their young.
Are there murder hornets in Tennessee?
No. The northern giant hornet, nicknamed the murder hornet, has only been found in the Pacific Northwest.
Why do hornets fly into my windows at night?
European hornets fly at night and are attracted to light, so they often bump against lit windows and porch lights.
Can a hornet sting more than once?
Yes. Hornets and wasps don’t lose their stinger like honey bees do, so they can sting repeatedly.
Sources: Penn State Extension and Mississippi State University Extension.
Need a Nest Handled?
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