Pests around your home should always be taken seriously. Some, such as termites, can cause serious structural damage to your property. Others, like rodents, can carry a wide array of diseases. But, perhaps the most worrying is the discovery of a hornet nest, because hornet venom can kill, especially if you’re allergic.
That’s why it’s so important to have an annual inspection by your local pest control experts to verify and deal with the presence of any issues.
Hornets make a loud buzzing noise which can be terrifying as they fly past you. However, they won’t usually attack unless they feel threatened. The problem is that they can set up their nest in your attic, the eaves of a property, in a tree, or any area that offers adequate cover for them. In other words, you may not realize they are there until you’re close enough to be a threat to them.
You need to know how to identify a hornet nest and when o call the exterminators.
What A Hornet Nest Looks Like
Hornets make nests from wood pulp and saliva, it actually looks a lot like paper. The initial structure is built by the queen, giving her a space to place the eggs she has been carrying. This becomes the center of the nest and it expands in tiers with need, a large colony will have a nest the size of a basketball!
During the summer months, the nest will thrive and hornets will hatch, sterile female hornets are workers that build the nest, allowing the queen to lay more eggs. The second batch of eggs is the fertile females, followed by the male hornets that will mate with the fertile females.
These fertile females find a warm sot to hide for the winter months and then start to build a new nest in the spring, as the weather warms. This is the time when you need to be most vigilant as the nest is smaller and easier to dispose of.
You should note that yellow and black flying insects coming from a hole in the ground or a hollow tree are not hornets, they are yellow jackets, a type of wasp.
The hornet nest looks like paper, is round, and has a single opening. Usually, it will be the size of a football although it can grow bigger.
Dealing With The Nest
You need to consider the location and time of the year. The closer it is to the fall the more aggressive the hornets will be. This is because the fertilized females are getting ready to leave the nest. If the nest is not in your direct path and can easily be avoided for a few months it may be best to leave it alone.
If it does need to be moved you’ll need expert help, they have the equipment to deal with the nest safely.
Don’t forget a hornet sting is exceptionally painful and they can each sting multiple times.
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