European hornet vs Bald-faced hornet
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a european hornet from a bald-faced hornet, and whether either one bites or stings.
European hornet
Vespa crabro
Bald-faced hornet
Dolichovespula maculata
≠The key differences
Black and white coloration and aerial paper nests in trees or bushes; smaller and lacks the reddish-brown tones of V. crabro.
European hornets are larger and primarily brown and yellow rather than black-and-white; their nests are usually in cavities rather than exposed hanging paper nests.
⚖︎Side by side
| European hornet | Bald-faced hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Painful sting | Painful sting |
| Size | About 18-25 mm body length (workers); queens 25-35 mm | About 12-20 mm body length (queens largest) |
| Colours | Reddish brown, Yellow, Dark brown | Black, White, Papery gray (nest) |
| Family | Vespidae | Vespidae |
| Habitat | Woodlands, hedgerows, orchards, farmland; nests in hollow trees, wall cavities, attics, sheds and sometimes underground voids | Woodlands, suburban and urban areas; nests in trees, shrubs, under eaves, attached to buildings or in dense vegetation |
| Range | Native to Europe and temperate Asia; introduced and established in parts of eastern North America | Widespread across North America, from Alaska and southern Canada through most of the United States |
| Active | Spring through autumn (peak summer activity); active by day and also at night, often attracted to lights | Active spring through autumn (colony peak in mid to late summer); workers active during daylight |
| Pest? | Yes | Yes |
🔍How to spot a european hornet
- Large size (about 18-35 mm) and robust body compared with common yellowjackets
- Reddish-brown head and thorax with yellow-and-brown banded abdomen
- Paper nest often in hollow tree trunks, wall cavities, attics or sheds
- Flight is slower and more lumbering than smaller wasps; visible mandibles and large head
🔍How to spot a bald-faced hornet
- Distinctive white face and white abdominal markings on a mostly black wasp
- Robust body 12-20 mm long; larger than many common paper wasps
- Large gray papery, enclosed round or football-shaped nests often hanging from branches, eaves or shrubs
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a european hornet and a bald-faced hornet?
Black and white coloration and aerial paper nests in trees or bushes; smaller and lacks the reddish-brown tones of V. crabro. European hornets are larger and primarily brown and yellow rather than black-and-white; their nests are usually in cavities rather than exposed hanging paper nests.
Is a european hornet or a bald-faced hornet more dangerous?
European hornet: Painful sting. Bald-faced hornet: Painful sting. European hornets can sting and are capable of multiple stings. Bald-faced hornets can sting repeatedly and deliver a painful sting.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.