Hornets and wasps – what are their species and how do they differ?

Hornets and wasps are particularly unpleasant insects that are constantly hanging around and spoiling your mood when you’re outdoors in midsummer. Worse still, when colonies of these unpleasant insects take up residence in your living environment. It is said that the first thing you need to do to successfully defeat an enemy is to know it, so here are the essential facts about hornets and wasps.

HORNETS

Hornets are insects belonging to the class Lepidoptera. They usually have a body length of 14-35 mm, with dark brown and yellow stripes running across the body. The head of the hornet can also be recognised by the fact that its head is very far back behind its eyes.

HORNET TYPES

There are over 22 species of hornets, 3 in Lithuania:

• common hornets (also known as hornets). Their distinguishing feature is their large size: if a large hornet is buzzing around, it is probably a hornet;
• Germanic hornets: they nest in the ground (these hornets are becoming extinct);
• brown hornets: easy to identify by their red underbelly (this species is also endangered).

HOW AND FOR HOW LONG DO HORNETS LIVE?

Hornets make their nests from a mixture of wood and saliva. Their nests are often large, the size of a ball. Eggs are laid and nests are built by overwintering female hornets, followed by worker hornets. Only the female hornets stay for the winter, while the workers and males die off.

Thus, most of them live during the warm season.

WHAT MAKES THE HORNET SOCIETY UNPLEASANT FOR PEOPLE?

Hornets often hang around sweet foods, although recently they have also been tempted by meat products. In the wild, they are attracted to overripe fruit, berries, nectar etc. It is dangerous to leave bottles unscrewed when spending time outdoors, as hornets can fly into them.

If hornets have taken up residence near your home, it is important to know how to remove their nest properly and safely. It is important to choose the right time, means and sequence of actions for safe extermination.

HORNET STINGS – WHAT TO DO?

Hornets can sting several times, and the sting is very painful and dangerous for children and allergic people. This can lead to anaphylactic shock and even death if the person does not get help in time. Hornet stings:

• the skin swells and reddens severely;
• the site of the sting is painful and itchy;
• a severe reaction in the body may cause choking, swelling of the face, dropping of blood pressure and a urticarial rash on the whole body.

FIRST AID IN CASE OF A HORNET, BEE OR WASP BITE

The first thing to do is to help the person who has fallen to sit or lie down comfortably.

• If a hornet has stung your hand, you should take off your watch, rings and bracelets, as this can be difficult to do when your hand is numb.
• Raise the stung limb to improve blood circulation, so the stung area is less swollen, less painful and less likely to feel strained.
• Give allergy medication. This is especially important if the bite was on the tongue or palate (which is often the case if you don’t notice a hornet that has fallen into your drink). A swollen tongue can block the airway, so even non-allergic people should take antihistamines as soon as possible and then seek medical attention for first aid.
• If the person has a severe allergic reaction, inject a dose of adrenaline (into the muscles of the thigh or shoulder).

If symptoms worsen, do not delay and call an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency room.

HOW TO REDUCE PAIN AND SWELLING AT HOME WHEN STUNG BY A HORNET, BEE OR WASP?

• Wash the bite site well with warm water and soap.
• You can use special preparations after insect bites or, if you don’t have any, a simple toothpaste will do the trick and neutralise the acid in the hornet’s venom.
• Apply a cold compress, preferably ice, to the bite site: it should be kept on for at least 10 minutes.
• If the pain is very intense, take analgesics.

How long does it take for the sting to go away? Usually the swelling and pain subside the same day.

WASPS

Wasps are classified as lepidopteran insects. They belong to the suborder Apocrita, which also includes bees and ants. Many wasps, both colonial and solitary, have a venomous sting.

TYPE OF COVER

In total, there are over 100,000 wasp species. Wasps live not only in swarms, but also singly and lay their eggs in the nests of other insects, which is why the wasp is considered a parasitic insect.

The most common species in Lithuania is the common wasp, also known as the fringed wasp.

HOW TO IDENTIFY WASPS?

They have shiny bright yellow and black bands on their belly. The main distinguishing feature is the very bright, intense colours of these two colours.

Normal worker wasps are about 10-15 mm long, drones are up to 15 mm long, and only the queens are slightly larger (about 20 mm long).

HOW AND FOR HOW LONG DO WASPS LIVE?

In spring, female wasps start to build nests and lay eggs, followed by worker wasps. The wasps build their nests out of wood pulp and the honeycombs are arranged horizontally. The wasp’s nest is rotated each year. In summer, the queens no longer build nests but only lay eggs.

At the end of the summer, the wasps “marry”: queens and drones mate. And only the female wasps survive the winter.

It is estimated that wasps take around 3-5 weeks to develop from egg to insect stage. On average, adult insects survive for just over six months.

WHAT MAKES THE WASP SOCIETY UNPLEASANT FOR PEOPLE?

• They feed on sweet food, so when we are outdoors, we often find their company unpleasant.
• Wasps can sting several times at once, and the stings are very painful.
• They can also live in very large colonies of up to 25 000 insects.
• Wasps nest in attics, shelters, wall cracks, tree hollows, etc. – close to people.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HORNET AND A WASP?

Many people still don’t understand the differences between the wasp and the hornet, which is only natural: the hornet and the wasp are close relatives. However, the following characteristics will help you identify them more easily:

• Wasps are black and bright yellow, while hornets have dark brown and yellow transverse stripes on their bodies.
• The wasp has a slender, clearly visible waist and a conical abdomen, while the insect itself is smaller.
• The heart is coarser and rounder.
• A wasp sting does not leave a sting, whereas a hornet or bee sting does.

WHAT IF I CAN’T ELIMINATE HORNETS OR WASPS MYSELF?

Worried about hornets or wasps? Are you afraid of their stings and the consequences? Then don’t risk exterminating these insects yourself: don’t hesitate to contact specialists with many years of experience who can help you get rid of an unpleasant wasp neighbourhood or destroy a hornet nest safely, quickly and permanently. The Sterilus.lt team is waiting for your call or message!