Arguably no insects strike more fear into people than hornets and wasps. More often than not the sight of one alone is enough to drive people crazy. Causing them to furiously wave their hands around, in an attempt to get them away from them. Even a glimpse of their hive brings either fear or fury, or both, into our hearts. But what exactly is the difference between hornets and wasps?
Let’s dive right in.
Taking a Look at Hornets and Wasps
What is a Wasp?
Wasps are known for their vibrant yellow and black rings, as well as for their brown wings. However, scientists largely believe that there are more than a hundred thousand different species of this insect, with new ones being discovered practically every year.
Perhaps the most recognizable thing about wasps is their nests, which at first glance, seem to be made out of crumpled paper. In reality, though, these are small pieces of wood that the wasps chew up before using the spat-out pulp to form the sturdy walls of their homes.
When looking at hornets and wasps it’s important to distinguish that wasps are carnivores. Which means that their stingers are capable of killing other creatures. More than that, though, these insects lay eggs inside their prey. Fortunately, their diet does not include human beings.
Still, though, wasps have been known to sting people, and unlike bees, they can sting more than once. Because of this, try not to disturb their nests the next time you see one. Wasps usually feed on fruit, nectar and sugar. However, they can also eat other insects, like caterpillars and aphids.
What is a Hornet?
Hornets are actually a subset of wasps and are the largest of the social wasps, which is a category that also includes yellow jackets and paper wasps. Despite the similar appearance of hornets and wasps, hornets are usually rounder and fatter. Which means that they’re much larger than the common wasp.
Additionally, they are typically brown with yellow and orange stripes. While hornets are known to nest the same way as wasps do, they’re generally less aggressive, especially if left unprovoked.
However, humans will find their stings more painful than the usual wasp’s, primarily because of the chemicals that hornet venom consists of. Hornets mainly feed on insects like flies and bees, although they’re also known to eat leaves and tree sap to supplement their diet.
What is the Difference Between Hornets and Wasps?
There may be hundreds of different species of hornets and wasps, however, keep in mind that all hornets are wasps but not all wasps are hornets. There are also a few key differences between hornets and wasps.
For one thing, wasps will go out of their way to scavenge for sugars and proteins while hornets are content with eating other insects.
Additionally, the majority of wasps are not social while hornets are. Besides their size and the colour of their rings, there are also slight differences in the nesting habits of hornets and wasps. For instance, some wasp species nest underground, while others, don’t have nests at all. On the other hand, hornets, whatever their species, only build aerial nests.
Now I’d like to hear from you.
If you found this post on Hornets and Wasps informative, please share it on social media through the buttons on this page and/or leave a comment below.
Thank You For Reading!
For Professional and Affordable Pest Control Services check us out!
