Hornets

Hornets are considered pests because they will sting humans when they feel they or their nest are threatened. Hornets are wasps that belong to the genus, Vespa. Hornet stings can be life-threatening for the small portion of the population that is allergic to insect stings.   

If you believe a colony of hornets may be building a nest on your property, we highly recommend contacting a pest control professional for assistance. Most serious hornet stinging incidents occur when untrained people attempt to remove nests by do-it-yourself methods. 

Concerned about hornets? Schedule an inspection with a licensed Rentokil Technician by calling 1-877-690-2215 or contacting Rentokil online.  

When you contact Rentokil Pest Control for hornet control services you can rest assured that the nests and live hornets on your property will be removed by a trained, licensed Technician. We strongly discourage anyone from approaching a hornet nest that is not a pest control professional. 

A Technician will first inspect your property and identify any hornet nests. Once an active nest on the property has been confirmed, the Technician will safely identify the type of stinging pest. Hornets require different control methods from other types of wasps and stinging insects so its important to correctly identify the pest in question before prescribing a treatment method. 

The Technician will then discuss with the customer the options for removal and agree on the service. After the customer consultation, the Technician will safely remove the nest and live hornets wearing safety equipment. The customer will be advised to stay away from the area where the nest is located and keep children and pets inside. 

There are over 20 different species of hornets around the world but only a few are commonly found infesting properties in Canada. Hornets are often confused with other types of wasps, especially yellow jackets. Hornets tend to be bigger than other types of wasps and their distinctive and often very large nests set them apart. 

Bald faced hornets and European hornets are the two types of hornets that our Technicians encounter most often in the field. 

Bald faced hornets have white markings on their head and thorax and build nests that are covered in a papery shell.

European hornets are brownish with orange markings, and build their nests in natural cavities like trees, stumps or in cavities within buildings. 

Due to the aggressiveness of hornets around their nests, we strongly recommend contacting Rentokil online to schedule a time for a certified pest control expert to safely perform an inspection of your property. 

The black and white wasp or bald-faced hornet is closely related to the yellowjacket. It receives its name from its mainly black body and mostly white-patterned head. They also have two slanted lines that run from their midsection toward their head and on the lower part of their abdomen. Like yellowjackets and paper wasps, the exterior of their upper-midsection appears almost triangular from the side. This unique looking pest is called a hornet due to its large size (12-15mm) and aerial nest. Unlike yellowjackets and wasps, however, the black and white wasp’s nest is enclosed rather than open.