How to Get Rid of Hornets? Natural, Herbal, and Chemical Treatment

Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps of the genus Vespa. Some species are found to have a length of about 5.5 cm. Around 22 species of Vespa are recognized around the world. European hornets are widely seen in Europe, Russia, North America, and Northeast Asia, but most of the species are seen only in the tropics of Asia.

Hornets chew wood and make papery pulp to form their nests. It will have one queen who lays eggs, and other female workers, those who cannot lay fertile eggs. Nests can be seen built-in open as well as underground by different species. Male hornets are docile and do not have stingers. It is the female hornets who have a sting to protect their nests and it can be dangerous than that of bees. Hornets (Vespa crabro) have 2 pairs of wings and six legs. The bald-faced hornets resemble a yellow jacket which is a larger version of hornets. They have a whitish marking on the face, thorax, and abdomen. European hornets have a reddish-brown head, thorax, first abdomen, and legs.

Bald Faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata)

This species belongs to Genus Vespula. Bald-faced hornets are closely related to yellowjackets than other species. These are large wasps and are called Bald-faced hornets found in North America. Their ivory and black color set them apart from others.

Because of their habit of making nests in the air, they are referred to as hornets. Australian hornet is also a species of potter wasp. Their nests are made of saliva and wood pulp and look like composed paper material. Their nests can be found on the top of the trees as well as in the covered areas.

Bald Faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata)

Giant Hornets European hornets or giant hornets belong to the species Vespa Crabo. They are similar to the Bald-faced hornets. Being predaceous, they mainly feed on other insects. Their population near human life can be highly dangerous.

Distribution

Hornets are considered as pests, because of their aggressive nature, when it comes to guarding their nests. They are very protective if they feel a threat to the nests and in retaliation, they can sting hard. Hornets can be located mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. You can find European Hornets widely in the regions of Europe, European Russia, and Ukraine.

In the eastern regions, they are distributed over the Ural Mountains to Western Serbia (Khanty-Mansiysk). In eastern China and southern Serbia, one can find common European hornets. It never existed in western North America and eastern North America, but it was accidentally introduced in the middle of the 19^th century and exists there till time.

Stings

The confusion over differences between hornets and wasps will remain forever till a deep study of both is completed.

As we saw above, the hornets are very protective towards their nests so if they are threatened, they will sting. They also sting to kill prey. A single hornet can sting repeatedly and they don’t die after stinging like honey bees. Their sting is more harmful because it contains 5% of acetylcholine. The typical wasp will not have such a dangerous sting.

The hornets possess a stinger that can be easily withdrawn and this will prevent the disengagement of stingers from their bodies. Since the stingers do not break after sting, they won’t die like honey bees.

Even the stinging can have results such as –

• Some species will have a common-like insect sting
• Some species are most venomous insects, and their sting can pose serious health issues
• Multiple stinging can be fatal because of their highly toxic components

Most venomous species are Asian giant hornets (V. Mandarinia) causing 30-50 annual human deaths in Japan. It is understood that in six months of the year 2013, there were 42 deaths in China due to Asian giant hornet stings.

Asian giant hornet’s stings can also result in allergic reactions and multiple organ failure leading to death, though dialysis can be used to remove the toxins from the bloodstream.

However, point to note – people who are allergic to wasp venom are surely affected by hornet venom.

Life Cycle

Queen is a fertilized female who finds a nest in spring. Dark and hollow tree trunks are the most favorite places where she nests. A series of about 50 cells of chewed tree bark are built. The layers are horizontal with each cell in a vertical position having an opening at the bottom and closed from the top. The egg is laid in each of the cells, which hatch in 5-8 days.

In the next two weeks, the progressing of larvae takes place in five stages. During these two weeks, the queen feeds it a protein-rich diet (insects) and larvae spins a silk cap over the opening of cells. The larvae transform into adults through the metamorphosis process. This new lot of hornets are mostly females and get down working by breaking through the silk cap. They do all the work previously done by the queen (foraging, nest building, and caring brood). New combs are added as the colony eventually grows with a protection build over the cell layers to cover the entire nest except the entry hole.

The population, by late summer, can go as high as 700 workers in a nest. This is also the time for the queen to produce the first reproductive individuals. The fertilized eggs (gynes) develop into females ad unfertilized eggs develop into males (drones). The males leave the nest for their mating during mid-autumn and also, they do not contribute to nest maintenance, foraging, etc.

Other species like the yellow hornet (V simillima) or the oriental hornets (V orientalis) also have similar life cycles. However, in the case of tropical species (V tropica), it differs substantially. In species of Asian giant hornet (V Mandarinia), the cycle depends on latitude.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the adult hornet and yellow jackets is sugar-rich plant food and nectar. You can easily find them eating on rotting fruits, oak trees, sugar-containing food material, and honey. They are also fond of overripe fruit into the orchards. Hornets usually like to enter inside the fruit and eat the pulp, by making a hole in the fruit. If you are picking up a fruit, ensure that there is no such activity going on or you may face immense pain due to sting.

The other source of their feeding is other insects. Hornets attach them to kill with sting and jaws. It is the power of their venom and size which helps them kill larger insects like honey bees, locusts, katydids, and grasshoppers. The victim is always taken to the nest and fed to the larvae and not adult hornets.  Due to the habitat of killing other pests, hornets are sometimes considered beneficial in particular instances.

The larvae produce sweet sugar and amino acid-containing secretion on which the workers and the queen are fed.

Types of Some Species of Hornets

• Black-bellied hornet – They are native of Taiwan. Its venom induces edema and they are one of the most dangerous species on the island.
  
  Colonies might have around 5000 individual hornets.

• Black-shield wasp – They were described in 1787 and are found in pollinators of an orchid. They also feed on honey bees.
  
  
• European hornets – They are native to Europe and are the largest eusocial wasps. They sting if stepped on or grabbed.

• Greater banded hornet – It is found in Southern Asia, West Africa, and New Guinea and is tropical species. It is a predator of paper wasp.
  
  
• Lesser banded hornet – They are common in subtropical and tropical Asia. They are as small as 22 to 30 mm. in size.

• Oriental hornet – These are social insects and are found in Northeast Africa, Southwest Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Southern Europe.
  
  
• Yellow hornet – They are also known as Japanese hornets or Japanese yellow hornets. They are commonly found in Eastern Hemisphere.

However, there’s more to note, and it’s about the species names “Asian Giant Hornets”. In recent times, they are the most known widely spread species in the world. They are also called “Murder hornets”. Last year, the Washington State of the U.S experienced a deadly invasion of Asian giant hornets.

The elaboration of the invasion was just like taken out of some novel. The invasion was so disastrous that there were thousands of honey bees found dead with their heads shaved off, and a whole colony was destroyed.

If one would like to know how those Asian giant hornets are, here are the details –

1. Murder hornets are large – The species are the largest hornet in the world. They grow as long as 1.5 to more than 2 inches. European hornets are just half of their size and yellowjackets are 0.5 to 0.75 inches.

2. They sting powerful – Their stingers are so long that they can penetrate beekeeper suits. One would feel immense pain if they sting. If you compare the venom power of Asian giant hornets and honey bees, then the Asian giant hornet sting is 7 times more venomous than honey bees.
   
   If this is not enough, they can sting you multiple times without any issue. If a group attacks, it can be fatal to humans, but they like to hunt for honey bees mostly, and not humans.

3. Rarely, but they can kill humans – The fatality on humans depend upon the number of stings or allergies of their venom. If some are allergic to the venom of Asian giant hornets or get multiple stings by hornets then it can be fatal.
   
   According to the ‘Times’ in Japan, around 50 people die of hornet sting in a year. Their prime treasure is their nest and in case, they feel a threat to the nests, they will be very aggressive. Away from their nests, they do not exhibit such aggression.

4. They swipe entire bee colonies – The name Murder hornets have come to existence due to their habitat of wiping off entire bee colonies.
   
   Only a few dozen Asian giant hornets can kill tens of thousands of honey bees within few hours. They can demolish the bee colony like it was never there. They feed on other insects and by killing and eating them, they regurgitate their young ones.

5. Strategic Planning – The Asian giant hornets when set out to find the food source, secrete a special scent on honeybee hives so that their team set up an attack in unison. This seems like a strategy to find and attack their prey.
   
   They are the only species that use the scent as their plan of attack.

6. Hunt starts in April – The Asian giant hornets are not an all-year threat. Usually, they remain dormant in winter, and it is in April that they start to search for food. They are most aggressive during the late summer and the fall and this is the nightmare time for honeybee colonies.

7. They select low and forest areas – The Asian giant hornets prefer to live in low-altitude forests and mountains and their nests are commonly underground. They avoid high-altitude and open areas; however, it is not clear how they spotted the North American region.

8. Travel – Asian giant hornets are very good fliers. They can catch up the speed of about 20 miles an hour and can go longer in a day.
   
   If they are away and honeybee colonies are on their way, they will destroy it and no doubt about that. Usually, they do not show aggression away from home but honeybees are their favorite food.

9. Not welcomed in North America – Honeybees, being a larger part of the agricultural facets in North America, are a good asset. They pollinate a lot of different crops like apples and various berries.
   
   If Asian giant hornets invade, it is a big loss for the state. The already decreasing honeybee population is a big worry. That is the reason, hornets are not liked to be in that area.

10. Get rid methods – There are several methods applied to get rid of Asian giant hornets like baited traps, poison, controlled fires, and screens. Also, honeybees can outnumber them sometimes. Their method to kill hornets is like covering them and increasing heat within their bodies and exerting carbon dioxide. 

How to Get Rid of Indoor and Outdoor Hornets?

It is not advisable to try anything yourself to get rid of hornets. Hornets are not friendly when they feel insecure. Their sting may be intense and painful. Most you can do is to avoid having them any harborage.

It’s very rare to found hornet infestation indoors as they usually build and operate outside in open. Trees are their main target for nesting and they feed on other insects. However, there are some precautions and some methods to get rid of or to avoid hornets which we will discuss below –

A.            Locate the nest – Hornets support the ecosystem by eating other insects and helping flowers pollinate. The nests away from your home at a safe distance must not be disturbed and let them do their work. If at all, you need to approach the nest, wear personal protective equipments and carry on your work.

1. Scout the nest – In the early spring, the nests are smaller and easier to remove. It will contain only queen and unhatched eggs, so, you can hose it down. By summer you will need an insecticide to remove the larger nest that will be containing thousands of hornets.

2. Wear protective clothing – Wear a thick, long-sleeved shirt, pants, thick gloves, and high-length boots. The veil will be additional protection as it will cover your face and head. Do not leave any gaps in the clothing by tying them with straps.

3. Lure and track – If you can’t get to the nest, track it by luring them with food. Their habitat lets them take whatever they find attractive, to their nest. Bait can be anything like pieces of fruit or meat. By following them, you can find the nest.

4. Marker – The hornet nest will be round and gray or beige. The size can vary from ping pong ball to basketball. Mark the spot with bright color at a safe distance of around 15 to 20 ft. The application of insecticide has to be at night.
   
   

B.            Application of insecticide –

1. Aerosol – A long-range effective aerosol insecticide is required. It should produce a solid stream that can reach the nest. This will allow you to spray without getting close to the nest. Use the product as per the directions given on the label.

2. Treat the nest at night – You have to wisely choose the time to use insecticide. It should be around 2 hours after dusk. But if it is a European hornet nest, then, you need to spray insecticide just before sunrise as they are active after sunset hours.

3. Red filter flashlight to find the nest – Hornets can’t locate red light hence, use a red filter on your flashlight to avoid disturbing the nest. Self-treating the hornets can be very risky even if you wear protective gear.

4. Spray insecticide – You need to track the nest opening to make the spray most effective. Spray the insecticide at the nest opening for at least 5 to 10 seconds. Take care to keep the nest intact while spraying at the opening. This will avoid any hornet coming out of the nest and if any hornet comes out it will have direct contact with the insecticide.
   
   Once you spray for a sufficient time, ensure you leave the place.
   
5. Inspect the nest the next day – You need to inspect the result after 24 to 48 hours. If required, repeat the same at night. Usually larger nests will need 2 to 3 applications. When you are sure the nest is empty, take it down in a bag, seal it, and burn it. If it is on the ground, cover it with soil.
   
   

C.            Deterring the hornets –

1. Seal and caulk cracks – Survey your house and property in early spring. Check for cracks and crevices on the siding, eaves, roof line, and soffits. Use less than half cm. wire mesh to cover large openings or vents.

2. Remove water and food source – Do not leave the containers having food, especially meat, in open. Other sources like sugar syrup, fruit, or proteins must be kept covered tightly.

3. Keep garbage bins clean – It is very important to keep trash and garbage bins empty regularly and tightly closed. This is a big attraction to hornets as it might contain food waste and beverage containers.
   
   Bin exteriors also must be kept clean and dry.

4. Rodent burrows and crevices – Ground nesting hornets get attracted to the rodent burrows and other nooks. Check and block the holes throughout the spring till early summer.

How to Get Rid of Hornets with Pets in House?

If you have a pet in the house, especially a dog, they will have a habit to put their nose on everything. You need to ensure that there is no hornet nest around your house at a level where your dog can reach. If by accident, it goes near the nest, it will be a big mess.

Inspect your property early spring-time for any hornet nest. If there is any, call professionals and get it removed. It is advised not to let the pet go anywhere near it.

How to Prevent a Hornet Infestation?

Though it is not a good idea to treat hornet yourself, you can always plan how to keep them out.

• Maintain your landscape – Hornets like to nest in dense bushes, so, it is better to mow down the lawn regularly. Keep the plants well-maintained and a few feet away from your house.

• Wash and clean garbage bins – Removing odors from bins and food waste periodically will help to keep the hornets away from your surroundings.

• Seal the doors and windows – Window screens must be intact and without crack. Secure the gap between the door and floor with tight-fitting plastic panes.

• Keep flowers away – Though it is beautiful to have flowers at the house or entrance, the distance the plants properly. Hornets like flowers and they get attracted to them.

How to Get Rid of Hornets in Your Yard?

Hornets prey on other insects for their food. This is the main reason you can find them in your yard. They prey on other insects, this also means that if you prevent other insects, hornets won’t have any attraction to your yard.

If you find a nest anywhere in the yard or tree, it is better to remove the nest. Nests growing on trees or bushes must be taken down. Wear proper protective gear to avoid the sting. Keep a sturdy plastic bag below and slide the nest directly into it with the help of long-handle tree trimmers.

Add some hornet insecticide and seal and burn it immediately.

Always keep trees and bushes trimmed.

How to Get Rid of Hornets from Trees?

Hornets typically make nests where they find protection from the sun and rain. They build a nest of size as per the space available. The body of the nest is wisely hidden in the cavity or void. The hornets, thus, prefer trees to build their nests, which they find a perfect place to fulfill all requirements.

The hornets do the damage to the trees. They tear the bark of a tree or shrub to find sap and honeydew. This tree girdling finally leads to the death of a tree or shrub. Since the sap is sweeter and found on the flowering plants, they become the prime target of hornets. The plants break down during the warm season as they are already weak during that period. 

Ways to Get Rid of Hornets from Trees

• If you observed such girdling of your trees, there is a ‘Honeydew gel bait’ available to get rid of this. You can apply this get-over the cut. The gel is made in such a way that on digestion it breaks down chemically. It will give a long-lasting effect.
  
  Once defecated, the exposed chemical from droppings will work by starting to kill all hornets in the nest.
  
• Non-repellent sprays can be used to give similar results. The active “Bithor’ can be sprayed over the tree, which in turn will be transferred to the nests by hornets.

How to Find Hornet Nests?

The sign of hornet infestation is their presence. If you see a hornet scrapping a thin layer of wood on any wooden surface, you will know you have hornets as your guests. Hornets can be observed near small crevices, tree bark, or rotten logs. But one place for sure you can find their nests are, on the tree branches and tree-like shrubs. They build paper-like nests in the tree branches and underneath eaves.

The hornets get attracted to the outdoor scrap lying unattended, specifically eating areas. The protected loft and outdoor siding are the perfect places for the hornets to build a nest. Thus, they will have their food sources like garbage cans, flowers, and trash, very near to them.

Some interesting facts about hornets –

• Some species are active during the day and some species, at night.
• Scouts (individuals) search beehives and produce chemical substances called pheromones to inform other members of the colony about the identified target.
• Japanese honeybees trap the scout by luring to beehives. Then, they gather around it to increase the temperature and release carbon dioxide combined with heat. This instantly kills the hornet.
• Each colony lasts up to one season only. At the end of her life, the queen lays a mass of fertilized eggs that turn out into a new generation of queens and a mass of unfertilized eggs that transform into drones (donors of sperm).
• Queen completes her life cycle in one year. Drones die immediately after fertilization. Workers can live from spring to summer.

How to Treat Hornet Bites?

When hornets sense danger near their nests, they become aggressive and sting hard. They can also cause temporary blindness to the suspected enemy by squirting venom into the eyes. The stings can give intense pain, though there is no long-time harm from it.

There could be some reactions in case of multiple bites or allergies to their venom. The typical reactions and symptoms are intense pain, redness, and swelling around the site of the sting.

For the treatment of hornet bite/sting, a doctor may suggest a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In case of itching, anti-histamines are suggested or oral prednisone for 2 to 3 days.

Allergic reactions are treated by using an epinephrine autoinjector and a strict follow-up in a hospital. In severe allergic reactions, a person may go into anaphylactic shock and die, if not treated promptly.

Due to various mastoparans, the stings release histamine except V. Orientalis.

FAQ

Q. How to Get Rid of Hornets under Pavers?

• Since the hornets like to nest in the crevices of the outdoor siding, one must ensure the pavers do not have any cracks or crevices.
• Since this also gives them shelter, avoid keeping any voids.

Q. How to Get Rid of Hornets around Pool?

• Providing an alternative source of water by raising a birdbath or a feeder on sufficient height above the pool can help you. The hornets come for water, so, you can divert them from your pool.

Q. How to Avoid Hornet sting?

• The hornet sting is powerful and it can pain immensely. To avoid getting stung, make sure to wear protective gears while you are removing them or their nests.
• Do not allow them to nest again by regularly using effective repellent.

Q. How to Get Rid of Giant Hornets?

• If you locate a giant hornet, never try to treat their nest yourself as it can be a provocation to them and you can be stung badly. Also, do not try to run as they get attracted to moving objects. Reporting and letting the professionals do their work will be the best advice.

Q. What time of the year do hornets die?

• The hornets are not supposed to survive cold temperatures. The time they start to die is late fall or early winter. Only the queen will survive and hibernate till spring arrives.

Q. How Vegans Get Rid of Hornets?

• Vegans will usually apply the peppermint oil method. One tablespoon of peppermint oil mixed with four cups of water will give a strong repellent.

Q. How to Get Rid of Hornets in Refrigerator?

• Hornets do not survive even cold temperatures, forget refrigerator. Only mated queen survives but it is highly unlikely that you will find it in the refrigerator because as per the life cycle it’s a time of hibernation.