Hornets and wasps are both in the Vespidae family, and people often mistake them for each other because they look so much alike. There are some key differences between these two types of biting insects that can help you tell them apart. This guide will show you how to tell the difference between hornets and wasps by looking at their different traits.
How Someone Looks
There are some physical traits that hornets and wasps share, but there are also traits that make them different:
Birds of prey:
Size: Most hornets are bigger than most wasps. The length can be anywhere from 0.75 to 1.25 inches (about 2 to 3 centimetres).
Hornets usually have a body that is reddish-brown to dark brown or black, with yellow spots that are easy to see on the belly.
Third limb: The third limb, which is in the middle of their body, is mostly brown or black.
Bugs that sting:
Size: Wasps come in different sizes, but most of the time they are smaller than hornets. The length of most of them is between 0.5 and 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimetres).
Colour: Wasps come in many different shades, but most of them have bright yellow and black lines on their bodies. The outside of some species may look blue or green like metal.
Thorax: A wasp’s thorax is usually nearly all yellow.
How They Nest
Knowing how hornets and wasps build their nests can also help you tell them apart:
Birds of prey:
Where the Nest Is: Hornets usually build their nests high up, like on high branches of trees or bushes or under the eaves of buildings. Their nests are usually high up and can get pretty big.
Material for the Nest: Hornets make paper-like nests out of chewed wood fibres mixed with their saliva. These nests are easy to spot because they are grey or brown and are usually closed off.
Bugs that sting:
Where to Nest: Wasps have a wider range of ways to build their nests. Some build nests in the air, like hornets do, while others build nests underwater, in hollow trees, or in wall voids. Their nests come in a range of sizes and shapes.
How They Build Their Nests: Many wasps build nests out of paper, like hornets do, but some use mud or plant fibres instead. The nests of different kinds of wasps can look and be very different sizes.
What to Do
There are also changes in how hornets and wasps act:
Birds of prey:
Wasps like yellow jackets are more likely to attack, but hornets are usually less violent. But if their nests are attacked, they will fight back very hard.
Hornets eat other animals, like caterpillars and flies, but their main food source is meat. They also drink fruit juices and water.
Bugs that sting:
- Anger: Some wasp species, like yellow jackets, are very angry and are known for protecting their territory. They are more likely to sting if you move them.
- Food: Wasps eat a variety of things. They eat bugs, but some species are also scavengers and may be drawn to sweet foods and drinks.
Sticking out
Both hornets and wasps have stingers, but the way they use them can be different:
- Hornets: Hornets can sting more than once and not lose their stinger. Their stings hurt, and some people can have allergic responses to them.
- Wasps: A lot of wasps can sting more than once. Different kinds of wasps can sting in different ways, but in general, they hurt about the same as hornet stings.
In conclusion, hornets and wasps are similar in some ways, but you can tell them apart by looking at their size, colour, behaviour, breeding habits, and how they sting. Understanding their behaviour and taking the right steps when you come across them in the wild depends on being able to tell the difference.
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