Yellowjacket vs Bald-Faced Hornet
Yellowjackets and bald-faced 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 yellowjacket has smooth, shiny yellow and black body with little hair, while a bald-faced hornet has black body with a white face and white tail markings.
Side-by-side comparison
| Yellowjacket | Bald-Faced Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps | Bees & Wasps |
| Scientific name | Vespula maculifrons | Dolichovespula maculata |
| Size | 10–16 mm | 15–20 mm |
| Colors | Yellow and Black | Black and White |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | Stings | Stings |
| Risk | Health risk | Health risk |
| Key feature | Smooth, shiny yellow and black body with little hair | Black body with a white face and white tail markings |
Key differences
- Size: Bald-Faced Hornets are larger, reaching 20 mm, while yellowjackets top out around 16 mm.
- Color: Yellowjackets are yellow and black; bald-faced hornets are black and white.
- Where found: look for yellowjackets in lawns and grass, in yards and on patios and in gardens and on plants; bald-faced hornets turn up on trees and shrubs and in yards and on patios.
- Signature feature: Yellowjackets: smooth, shiny yellow and black body with little hair. Bald-Faced Hornets: black body with a white face and white tail markings.
How to identify yellowjackets
A sleek, bright yellow-and-black wasp that nests underground or in wall voids. Late-summer workers scavenge for sweets and meat and are drawn to picnics and trash cans.
- Smooth, shiny yellow and black body with little hair
- Narrow waist and wings folded lengthwise at rest
- Rapid side-to-side flight near nest entrances
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
Which one is more dangerous?
Neither is more dangerous than the other; both are rated health risk on our scale.
Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous. Bald-faced hornets deliver painful stings and attack in numbers when their nest is disturbed.
Where and when you'll see each
Yellowjackets turn up in lawns and grass, in yards and on patios and in gardens and on plants, mostly in summer and fall. Bald-Faced 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
Yellowjackets: Keep lids on trash and cover food and drinks outdoors. Read the full removal guide for more.
Bald-Faced Hornets: Leave nests far from activity alone, since the colony dies in winter. 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 yellowjackets and bald-faced hornets?
Size: Bald-Faced Hornets are larger, reaching 20 mm, while yellowjackets top out around 16 mm.
Which is bigger, a yellowjacket or a bald-faced hornet?
Yellowjacket: 10–16 mm. Bald-Faced Hornet: 15–20 mm.
Do yellowjackets or bald-faced hornets bite?
Yellowjackets do not bite and can sting. Bald-Faced Hornets do not bite and can sting.
Where are they usually found?
Yellowjackets: in lawns and grass, in yards and on patios and in gardens and on plants. Bald-Faced Hornets: on trees and shrubs and in yards and on patios.