When a small buzzing insect with a stinger comes near, most people want to run away as quickly as possible. However, if they have made your home their home, then you will want to know how to get rid of them as soon as possible. Hornets, bees, and wasps are often confused for each other, and while they do share some characteristics, you should first identify what insect you are dealing with so that you can take the proper steps to send them on their way.

About Hornets

There are about twenty different species of hornets, most of which come from the tropical areas of Asia. There is also a European hornet, which prefers more temperate areas. The European variety was accidentally brought to North America and is now found throughout the eastern states.

Hornets are actually a variety of wasp. They belong to the genus Vespa, which is a member of the subfamily Vespinae. To know if you are dealing with a hornet, you will want to check out the vertex. This is the part of its head that is behind the eyes. A hornet has a larger vertex than other vespines. A hornet or wasp isn’t as “hairy” as a bee, and usually is a little bigger. It is actually pretty difficult to tell what insect you are dealing with unless you get quite close, and most people would rather stay back. The good news is that hornets tend to attack other insects rather than hanging out where humans can run into them. Unlike yellowjackets who hang out around trash bins and playground equipment, hornets build their nests in shrubs, trees, and under eaves so you are less likely to accidentally disturb them.

Hornets, particularly the European species, have a very bad reputation. Many people think that they are mean and dangerous, but this is really not true. Hornet stings are not any more dangerous than wasp stings. Also, they are generally less aggressive than wasps. The only time they become aggressive is when they are provoked or their nest is in danger.

Hornet Nests

So how can you identify a hornet’s nest to make sure you stay far away? Nests are an integral part of the life cycle. The queen, who is a fertilized female, starts the nest in the spring. She finds a good location that is sheltered, such as a tree trunk or a bush. She will build the first cell of the nest out of chewed bark. Cells are built in layers which are called combs. The queen lays an egg into each cell. In about a week the egg hatches. Later, the larva will spin a silk layer on top of the cell, closing it off. The larva will then undergo metamorphosis and change into an adult hornet. Once she is an adult, she’ll eat through the silk cap. All these initial hornets will be females. They will then take over all of the queen’s duties, such as building the nest and finding food. The queen, however, is the only one who will lay eggs. New combs are built by this first generation, as well as an outside envelope which is built around the cell layers. Eventually the entire nest becomes covered. A finished nest is large, gray and appears to be made out of paper although it is actually chewed bark and saliva. Once the nest is finished, the queen will also produce drones, which are male hornets. Their only job is to go on mating flights in mid-autumn. After they mate, they die. By late autumn, most of the workers and queens have also died. It is only the fertilized queen who can live through the winter.

How to Kill the Hornets and Save the Nest

Many people collect hornet’s nests and even display them in their home. The best time to gather a nest for display is in late autumn or winter because the hornets that used to live there have now all died. The nests are often destroyed quickly by nature, so if you want one, it is best to collect it as early as possible. One way to remove a nest without destroying it is to slip a large plastic bag around it as gently as possible. You will want to do it rapidly and you should try not to disturb the nest in any way. The best time to do this is in the middle of the night when it is the coldest because the hornets will be least active. Once you have got the nest in the bag, tie it shut. If it is attached to a tree branch, you will want to tie it above the tree branch, and then cut the branch off. Once you have secured the nest in a closed bag, place the bag in the freezer. All the hornets will die from the cold. You can then enjoy the nest without fear of being stung.

More Ways to Get Rid of Hornet’s Nests

Hornet nests only have one opening. If you are going to use a chemical to kill the hornets in the nest, you need to spray it into this opening. Do it late at night when most of the hornets will be in the nest and they will be less active. You want to be very careful not to break any part of the nest, because this will give the hornets room to escape. They are very protective of their nest and will become aggressive. They also have an alarm pheromone which means if one hornet is killed, even if it is just somewhat close to the nest, it can let the others know that there is danger and then the whole nest might be triggered to attack. For this reason, it is often best for you to hire a professional pest control person who will destroy the nest while wearing protective clothing. It is important that the whole life cycle is disrupted. For instance, if you were to simply cut the nest down, the hornets would just rebuild it. Therefore, any time you wish to eradicate a group of hornets, you need to destroy the whole population and their nest. In some countries, it is illegal to destroy a hornet’s nest because they are locally endangered. In Germany, you can be fined up to 50,000 Euros for killing a hornet or destroying a nest.

Hornet Stings

There are people who are allergic to hornet stings just as there are people who are allergic to bee stings. Being stung by a nest of hornets can even be fatal to a person who is not allergic to their venom. Unlike bees, hornets can sting multiple times without dying, and can also bite, and alert the entire nest of potential danger. Hornet stings are generally considered more painful than wasp or bee stings. This is why it is usually a good idea to let the professionals deal with hornets.

How Not to Get Stung

If you do happen to see a nest, there are few things you can do to avoid being stung:

• Do not disturb the nest in anyway.
• Do not make any loud noises.
• Stay back from the nest.
• Do not bother a hornet who is trying to go to its nest.
• Do not disturb the air by moving your hands or arms around.
• Do not breathe on the nest or on a hornet.
• Never kill a hornet near its nest.
• Do not break a hornet’s nest. It is much safer in one piece.
• Do not attempt to remove a hornet’s nest in the middle of the day. Wait until it is cooler outside.

What to Do if You Get Stung by a Hornet

If you do happen to get stung by a hornet, don’t panic. Slowly move away from the nest. Your goal should be to remove yourself from the situation without alerting any more hornets of your presence. There are some people who are allergic to hornets and it’s hard to know whether you are allergic until you have had a reaction to a sting.

If you experience hives, a rash, or swelling all over your body, have trouble breathing or swallowing, feel dizzy or if you faint after being stung, you are most likely having an allergic reaction. This is a very serious medical condition and needs to be treated right away. Someone needs to drive you to the hospital. If no one is available, call 911 or your local emergency number. If you are having a severe reaction, the most important thing to do is to stay calm. If you are able to swallow, take some Benadryl. If you feel dizzy, lie down with your feet elevated above your heart.

If you have had an allergic reaction before, you might have been given an epinephrine pen. If so, you will want to administer a dose right away. Always seek medical treatment if you get stung by a hornet and you are allergic, even if your symptoms are not severe.

For most people, a hornet sting will cause pain, swelling and itching, but is not life-threatening. First, you’ll want to remove the stinger if it has become lodged in your skin. You can do this by rubbing gauze across the site or by using a credit card to scrape it out. Do not squeeze it, or try to pull it out with tweezers because this can cause more venom to be expelled.

Home remedies to help relieve pain and swelling:

• Take an over the counter medication, such as Tylenol or aspirin.
• Apply an ice pack.
• Soak a cotton ball in bleach and rub it on the site. Don’t get it near your eyes or mouth, or on your clothing.
• Run a tea bag under warm water and then place it on the site for about a minute.
• Rub a rhubarb leaf on the sting site.
• Hornet sting sites are alkali, so treating them with an acid has been reported to stop the stinging. Lemon juice or vinegar poured over the site may relieve the pain.
• Rub the juice of a clove of garlic or meat tenderizer over the sting.
• A fresh slice of onion placed over the site should make the swelling go down.
• Smokeless tobacco placed on the skin and covered with a paper towel should stop the pain.
• Try toothpaste smeared onto the area where you were stung.

Other than allergies, there is really no reason to fear hornets, as they are one of the more peaceful insects around. They are quite helpful when it comes to getting rid of other bugs, and if you can avoid them, they are likely to avoid you as well.