How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Hornet & A Wasp in Egg Harbor, NJ; Nests, Stings & More

Nothing will ruin an outdoor space like a stinging insect infestation. There are no homeowners that like to find wasps or hornets buzzing around their head when they go out in their backyard. When it comes to stinging insects, not all of them behave the same and carry with them the same risks. For instance, hornets deliver a more painful sting than the common wasp. There are several different kinds of wasps out there. Many people may be wondering if there is a difference between wasps and hornets. Ross Environmental Solutions is here to talk about the difference between a common wasp and a hornet.

Are Hornets & Wasps Different?

If we are here to be technical, hornets are a specific type of wasp. Common wasps and hornets look and behave similarly, but there are some significant differences between the two as well. We are here today to talk about the differences between a common wasp and a hornet.
– Physical Wasp Differences: While there are some similarities in the way that these two insects look, there are also some differences. The biggest and most noticeable difference between the two is the shape of their bodies. Hornets have a much stockier fatter body. A common wasp has a long, narrow body with a severely pinched waist. Most common Wasps are between 1/4 and 1 inch long as well. There are some Hornets that can as long as two inches in length.
– Nesting: Both common wasps and hornets build nests out of a thin, papery substance. However, Hornet nests our much larger. Sometimes, they can be as large as a basketball. Wasps we’ll build a smaller nest about 6 to 8 inches wide at most. Also, a colony of hornets can be as large as 70 to 100 insects while a wasp colony is only about 20 to 30.
– Wasp Sting: As mentioned above, a sting from a hornet is going to be more painful usually than a sting from a common wasp. Hornets carry a neurotoxin that can prove to be incredibly dangerous for some people. Both of these insects have the ability to sting somebody over and over again.
– Aggression of Wasp Species: Unfortunately, both of these insects are seriously aggressive. Socially speaking, hornets more social creatures than wasps. There is often more than one Hornet in an area where wasps are a more solitary creature that doesn’t mind living life alone. Sometimes, when you see a hornet, you know that there are more where that one came from. If you encounter either of these insects, don’t make them feel threatened or they will actually chase you. Stay calm and wait for them to move on.

Stinging Insect Control

If you see stinging insects on your property, you can turn to the professionals at Ross Environmental Solutions to help you get rid of them. It can be dangerous to attempt to remove nests on your own as these stinging insects can be incredibly aggressive. Call us today!