Bald-Faced Hornet vs European Hornet
Bald-Faced Hornets and European hornets are easy to mix up at a glance, but a few details separate them quickly. Here is how to tell which one you found and what, if anything, you should do about it.
Quick answer
Check for this first. A bald-faced hornet has black body with a white face and white tail markings, while a European hornet has large wasp with a reddish-brown head and thorax.
Side-by-side comparison
| Bald-Faced Hornet | European Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps | Bees & Wasps |
| Scientific name | Dolichovespula maculata | Vespa crabro |
| Size | 15–20 mm | 25–35 mm |
| Colors | Black and White | Brown and Yellow |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | Stings | Stings |
| Risk | Health risk | Health risk |
| Key feature | Black body with a white face and white tail markings | Large wasp with a reddish-brown head and thorax |
Key differences
- Size: European Hornets are larger, reaching 35 mm, while bald-faced hornets top out around 20 mm.
- Color: Bald-Faced Hornets are black and white; European hornets are brown and yellow.
- Signature feature: Bald-Faced Hornets: black body with a white face and white tail markings. European Hornets: large wasp with a reddish-brown head and thorax.
How to identify bald-faced hornets
A black wasp with ivory-white markings on its face and the tip of its abdomen. It builds large, gray, football-shaped paper nests in trees, shrubs and under eaves.
- Black body with a white face and white tail markings
- Gray paper nest with a single entrance near the bottom
- Defends nests aggressively, even from vibration
How to identify European hornets
The only true hornet established in North America, a large brown-and-yellow wasp that nests in hollow trees, barns and wall voids. It often flies at night and is attracted to lights.
- Large wasp with a reddish-brown head and thorax
- Yellow abdomen with brown bands and teardrop spots
- Active at night and drawn to porch lights
Which one is more dangerous?
Neither is more dangerous than the other; both are rated health risk on our scale.
Bald-faced hornets deliver painful stings and attack in numbers when their nest is disturbed. European hornet stings are very painful, and colonies defend their nest, though workers are less aggressive away from it.
Where and when you'll see each
Bald-Faced Hornets turn up on trees and shrubs and in yards and on patios, mostly in summer and fall. European Hornets turn up on trees and shrubs and in yards and on patios, mostly in summer and fall.
Because they share habitat, you may find both in the same place, so check each individual.
What to do if you find one
Bald-Faced Hornets: Leave nests far from activity alone, since the colony dies in winter. Read the full removal guide for more.
European Hornets: Keep porch lights off or use yellow bulbs near hornet activity. Read the full removal guide for more.
Biology: bees & wasps
Bees and wasps belong to the same order as ants. Social species such as honey bees, bumble bees, yellowjackets and hornets live in colonies with a queen, while solitary species such as mud daubers and cicada killers raise their young alone. Only females can sting, because the stinger is a modified egg-laying tube.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between bald-faced hornets and European hornets?
Size: European Hornets are larger, reaching 35 mm, while bald-faced hornets top out around 20 mm.
Which is bigger, a bald-faced hornet or a European hornet?
Bald-Faced Hornet: 15–20 mm. European Hornet: 25–35 mm.
Do bald-faced hornets or European hornets bite?
Bald-Faced Hornets do not bite and can sting. European Hornets do not bite and can sting.
Where are they usually found?
Bald-Faced Hornets: on trees and shrubs and in yards and on patios. European Hornets: on trees and shrubs and in yards and on patios.