Hornet Control

The bald-faced hornet is a large, striking wasp recognized by its black body with distinctive white or ivory markings on the face, thorax, and abdomen tip. Despite its common name, the bald-faced hornet is technically a type of yellow jacket rather than a true hornet. It builds large, enclosed aerial nests that are among the most impressive insect structures in Georgia. These football-shaped paper nests can grow to over two feet in length by late summer and house 400 to 700 workers.

Bald-faced hornets are common throughout Metro Atlanta, building nests in trees, shrubs, on building overhangs, under eaves, on utility poles, and occasionally in attic spaces. They are highly defensive of their nest, establishing a perimeter zone of approximately 10 to 15 feet within which any perceived threat triggers an aggressive group attack. Their large size, potent sting, and willingness to pursue intruders make them one of the most dangerous stinging insects to encounter. Servitix provides safe, professional removal of bald-faced hornet nests and can address nests in difficult locations including high in trees, on multi-story structures, and within enclosed spaces.

Bald-faced hornets are large wasps measuring 5/8 to 3/4 inch in length, with queens reaching nearly 1 inch. Their most distinctive feature is the bold black and white coloring. The face has prominent white or ivory markings, giving the species its bald-faced name. White markings also appear on the thorax, legs, and the tip of the abdomen. The body is robust and largely black with a clearly defined waist. Wings are smoky brown.

The nest is unmistakable. Bald-faced hornets construct large, enclosed, pear or football-shaped nests from a papery gray material made of chewed wood fibers. Nests hang from a branch, overhang, or structural support and have a single entrance hole near the bottom. Early-season nests may be the size of a softball, but by late summer they can exceed two feet in length and 18 inches in diameter. The layered paper envelope provides insulation and weather protection for the internal comb structures. These aerial nests are highly visible once the leaves drop in fall, but during the growing season they may be concealed by foliage until someone gets dangerously close. Servitix technicians identify both the species and nest location to determine the safest and most effective removal approach.

Bald-faced hornets are social insects with an annual colony cycle. A single overwintering queen starts a new colony in spring, building a small starter nest and raising the first generation of workers. The colony grows through summer as successive generations of workers expand the nest, forage for food, and care for developing larvae. Peak colony size of 400 to 700 workers is reached in late summer before the colony produces new queens and males in fall.

These hornets are aggressive predators that hunt flies, yellow jackets, and other insects. They capture prey on the wing, chew it into a paste, and feed it to larvae in the nest. Adults feed on nectar, tree sap, and fruit juices. Bald-faced hornets are extremely defensive of their nest and will attack anything that approaches within their defensive perimeter, which can extend 10 to 15 feet or more from the nest. They can sting repeatedly and will chase perceived threats for significant distances. Unlike some wasps, bald-faced hornets can also squirt venom from the stinger toward the eyes of nest intruders, causing temporary blindness and intense pain. Vibrations from lawn mowing, hedge trimming, or other yard work near a concealed nest frequently trigger defensive attacks on unsuspecting homeowners.

Bald-faced hornets build aerial nests suspended from branches, structural overhangs, or other elevated supports. In Metro Atlanta, common nest locations include tree branches at heights of 10 to 60 feet, large shrubs, under building eaves and soffits, on porch overhangs, inside open garages and carports, on utility poles, and occasionally within attic spaces through open soffit vents. They prefer locations that are sheltered from direct rain and wind but have clear flight paths for entering and exiting.

Nests in trees are particularly problematic because dense foliage during the growing season can completely conceal a large nest until someone trimming branches, mowing beneath the tree, or playing in the yard enters the defensive zone and triggers an attack. Nests on structures, especially above doorways, pathways, and outdoor living areas, create daily hazards. Georgia's warm climate supports large colony development, and the long active season from April through November means nests have more time to grow than in northern states. In fall, after the colony dies, the empty nest remains visible through winter. While the old nest is not reused, bald-faced hornets often build new nests near the previous year's location. Servitix assesses the nest size, location, and accessibility to plan the safest removal approach for each situation.

Bald-faced hornets deliver one of the most painful stings of any North American wasp. Their venom causes intense localized pain, significant swelling, and redness that can persist for days. They can sting multiple times in rapid succession, and their defensive group response means a single disturbance can result in dozens of simultaneous stings. Their unique ability to spray venom toward the eyes of intruders adds an additional risk that other wasps do not present, potentially causing temporary blindness and severe pain.

For individuals with venom allergies, bald-faced hornet stings carry the risk of anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency. Even without allergies, the sheer number of stings possible during a colony defense incident can cause systemic reactions including fever, nausea, and headache. Children, elderly individuals, and pets are particularly vulnerable because they may not recognize the danger or be able to retreat quickly. Attempting to remove a bald-faced hornet nest without professional training and equipment is extremely dangerous. Even commercially available wasp sprays with long spray ranges may not reach nests in trees and can provoke an attack without fully eliminating the colony. Servitix technicians use full protective suits, professional-grade products, and specialized equipment to safely eliminate nests in all locations.

Servitix eliminates bald-faced hornet nests using a two-step approach: colony elimination followed by nest removal. Our technicians, wearing full bee suits and face protection, treat the nest with professional-grade aerosol or dust products injected directly into the nest entrance during evening hours when the colony is inside and flight activity has ceased. For high nests in trees, we use extension poles and specialized application equipment to reach the nest safely from the ground. After treatment takes full effect, the nest is physically removed when accessible to prevent it from attracting future nesting in the same area.

Prevention of bald-faced hornet nesting is challenging because queens select new sites each spring independent of previous nest locations. However, treating known nesting areas on structures with residual products in early spring can deter queens from establishing nests on your home. Regular landscape monitoring during April through June helps catch nests while they are still small and contain only the queen and a few workers, when they are safest to treat. Keeping trees and large shrubs trimmed to maintain visibility helps prevent concealed nests from growing to dangerous size undetected. Our seasonal maintenance plans include scheduled property walkthroughs during peak nest-building months to identify and eliminate new colonies early. If you notice large black-and-white wasps regularly flying to and from a specific area of your property, contact Servitix immediately for a professional assessment.