Wasps vs. Hornets: What's The Real Difference?

Wasps and hornets are both important in ecosystems because they serve as predators and pollinate as well. Wasps get attracted to basically sugary foods, which is why they are most commonly seen near any outdoors or even the trash bins for some sweet food.

On the other hand, hornets, are less attracted to sugary foods but spend their time hunting for insects like flies and caterpillars to feed them to their larvae. While both insects can become territorial around their nests, hornets tend to build theirs higher up in trees, whereas wasps tend to nest a little closer to human activities.

Wasps are considered beneficial pollinators, and predators of pests. Hornets, because of their size and powerful venom, are regarded as more dangerous.

Size Comparison of Wasp and Hornet:

Most wasp species are somewhat small, usually between 0.5 inches to 1 inch in length. The bodies are slender, with the size differential between the thorax and abdomen because of a narrow waist. Many species, like yellowjackets and paper wasps, fall under this normal size range.

Truth is, hornets are actually a type of wasp, but larger. The typical species, such as the European hornet, typically measures between 1 and 1.5 inches in length, with the Asian giant hornet - the infamous "murder hornet"- reaching well over 2 inches on occasion. Hornets are bulkier than regular wasps and possess more substantial bodies.

Wasps are a group of flying insects, which people often mistake for bees due to their similar appearance. However, wasps fall into another category in terms of ecological role and can be distinguished by slender bodies, and narrow waists.

Some wasps are beneficial, they prey on pests that damage plants. Others are true pests because they harass humans.

Yellow Jackets

The yellow jacket is a small, aggressive wasp with a black body having yellow stripes. Unlike bees, most of which are rather docile, yellow jackets are bold and will sting without hesitation in defense. 

Common places to encounter yellow jackets include picnic areas or around trash bins, as they like sweet drinks or food. Most of their nests are found underground or in hidden spots, but some nests are in visible areas. If you see one around your house or yard, be careful not to be stung.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps are narrow-waisted, and have long legs and reddish-brown, black or yellow markings. Paper wasps are not as aggressive as yellow jackets and tend only to sting when threatened. 

Though they may appear intimidating, they are only popular for creating umbrella-shaped nests that resemble paper.

Mud Dauber Wasp

Mud daubers wasps are solitary wasps that are known by the nests they build using mud in a tubelike form. They are normally black or metallic blue in color, with a really long, thin-waisted body.

The mud daubers are not particularly aggressive, and they hardly sting. They spend most of their energy hunting spiders to paralyze and store in their nests for their larvae.

Hornets are types of wasps that are larger and generally considered more aggressive than most. They share various qualities with other wasps but are usually bigger. Hornets are important for our ecology as they control the levels of harmful plant pests.

Bald-Faced Hornet

The bald-faced hornet is large, and black with typical white markings on the face and body. It is a yellow jacket species, not really a true hornet. These insects are known for very aggressive behavior and will sting repeatedly in defense of their threatened nests.

Their nests are large, football-shaped structures built from chewed wood; they are typically located on trees or bushes.

European Hornet

European hornets are large, stout wasps that bear bodies of reddish-brown color with yellow-striped abdomens. Most other hornets are not as active during both day and evening, making them even more likely to encounter.

They prefer building their nests in hollow trees, wall cavities, or other protected spaces. They only become dangerous while defending their nests.

Asian Giant Hornet

The Asian giant hornet is considered by many to be the world's largest hornet, reaching up to two inches in body length. It is further known as the "murder hornet."

They are identified by their orange head, black eyes, and striped abdomen. Asian giant hornets have been known to attack and decimate honeybee colonies.

Hornet vs wasp possess some of the most interesting life cycles, which include specific periods of development. In general, the different developmental phases a wasp and hornet goes through during its life cycle include the egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.

1. Egg Stage: The life cycle of wasps and hornets usually starts with egg-laying by a female. The various species usually do so within the nest or inside hosts, like caterpillars. This stage lasts from several days to a fortnight.

2. Larval Stage: When the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge. This stage is quite important in the development of an organism. Larvae of wasps and hornets are normally soft, and legless.

The adults feed pre-digested food such as insects, nectar, and fruit. For wasps, this phase can last from several weeks to months, but hornet larvae develop in pupa in usually 10 to 14 days.

3. Pupal Stage: This is a stage when metamorphosis occurs after the larval stage in the insect's life cycle. The larvae are mostly immobile, developing a hard outer covering - a cocoon. Inside this protective covering, the larva develops into an adult insect.

4. Adult Stage: The final stage is the adult wasp or hornet. Upon emerging from the pupa, the insect often takes a little time to expand its wings and harden its exoskeleton. Their different roles involve foraging, defending, and reproduction among adults.

Social wasps like Yellow Jackets live in colonies with a highly decisive hierarchy, while solitary wasps work independently. Whereas, all hornets are social so they live building nests.

Wasps, hornets, and bees all belong to the Hymenoptera family but their stings differ significantly in pain, venom, and behavior. 

The wasp sting is painful with venom that can cause an immediate, sharp sensation. Wasp venom contains proteins that act upon skin cells and the immune system for hours.

Whereas, hornet sting is even stronger than that of ordinary wasps due to their highly concentrated venom. The pain from a hornet sting is far more intense and even tends to burn or throb longer. 

Unlike bees, which sting only once, wasps can repeatedly sting because their stingers remain intact. Similar to waps, hornets also can sting multiple times.

What To Do For Wasp and Hornet Sting?

Here are the home remedies you should do instantly after getting stung by a wasp and hornet:

• Remove the stinger by pressing hard objects in the sting area, avoid tweezers,
• Use an ice pack for pain relief,
• Elevate the affected area to reduce the flow of venom,
• Apply sting cream like calamine lotion or sprinkle meat tenderizer,
• Monitor for signs of allergic reactions,
• Contact emergency healthcare immediately if you feel dizziness and intense swelling.

When comparing wasp nests and hornet nests, there are key differences in their structure, location, and behavior.

Wasps create umbrella-shaped nests with visible hexagonal cells that are most commonly hanging under eaves or decks, even tree branches. A nest like this may house up to hundreds of wasps that can get very aggressive in defending it when disturbed.

Hornet nests are larger, they look like papery football-shaped. It is composed of wood chewed into a pulp and mixed with saliva. Hornets build their nest to solitary areas like the top of trees, and high-rise buildings.

Unlike wasp nests, which are generally open, the nest of hornets is entirely encapsulated except for one small entrance hole. This structure also gives more protection to the colony.

Wasps and hornets have a rather varied diet, based on species and life stage, respectively. However, both have been quite important predators and pollinators.

Adult wasps survive on sweet nectar, fruit juices, and even sweet drinks left by humans from outdoor activities. Besides nectar, wasps also forage on rotting fruits and honeydew - a sweet secretion made by aphids.

Hornets too have a similar diet; however, they usually develop a heightened interest in hunting insects as predators. Unlike wasps, hornets actively hunt and feed on other insects, including flies, caterpillars, and spiders, chewing their prey and bringing it back to the nest to feed the larvae.

There are numerous ways to get rid of wasps and hornets naturally and chemically. Before moving to professional pest control, try out these solutions first:

1. Repellent Plants: In order to keep the wasps and hornets out of your home and yard, it is always better to think of planting insect repellent plants such as citronella, marigold, basil, mint, and many others. These plants have some sort of pungent smell usually, which these insects will go a long way to avoid.

2. Homemade Traps: You can make a homemade wasp and hornet trap with the help of an empty plastic bottle. Cut it halfway and invert it, making a funnel. After that, add baits-for wasps, sugar and water, and for hornets, insects and meat.

3. Essential Oils: The essential oils, such as peppermint, clove, and lemongrass, are natural repellents for wasps and hornets.

4. Smoke or Burn the Nest: If there is a wasp or hornet nest around your home and yard, avail the help of smoke in order to keep them away. For excessive smoke, use fresh leaves of citronella/marigold- or just take a blow torch and smoke them. Hasta-la-vista!

And, of course, don't forget about your protective clothes!

Wasps and hornets are counted among the most efficient pest controllers in nature. These insects hunt many types of garden pests, such as caterpillars, flies, beetles, and aphids.

Pest Control

They help reduce the amount of harmful chemical pesticides applied by hunting pests. Amazingly, they tend to do a lot of good for our gardens and crops without us even realizing it.

Paper wasps and bald-faced hornets are great examples: they love catching caterpillars and return these to their nests as food for their larvae. This helps in the management of pests and protects plants from heavy damage.

Biodiversity Boost

Parasitic wasps may be a little eerie, but they are part of biodiversity. They are insects that lay eggs on or inside other insects, like caterpillars, aphids, or beetles.

The hatched eggs become larvae and feed on that host until it dies. That sounds really cruel, but that is nature's way of controlling some of those populations of insects.

If parasitic wasps don't exist, then an outbreak of the related pest species is just about sure to occur which will affect the overall balance of the ecosystem.

Pollination Partners

Although one does not typically consider wasps and hornets as high among the list of pollinators, they do a pretty good job at it. They are carnivorous insects, feeding on nectar from flowers, and while doing so, their bodies incidentally pick up pollen and help in transferring it from one plant to another, allowing the plants to reproduce.

Although they are not as efficient as bees, they make a very important contribution to biodiversity and food production.

While they may appear as terrifying predators, wasps and hornets labor along with our gardens, quietly blooming and growing them.