Today, however, we are going to take a look at some of the differences and misnomers between hornet nests vs. wasp nests. Understanding the differences between them allows us to discover how unique and interesting these insects truly are, even if we don’t necessarily want to learn about them through in-person experience. Let’s get started and learn: hornet nest vs. wasp nest, what are the differences?
Comparing a Hornet Nest and a Wasp Nest
There is a bit of confusion around the terminology for hornets, wasps, and all the other stinging bugs that live in our yards. To quickly clear things up, the word “wasp” is the general scientific category for all of the stinging bugs we think of when we call something a hornet or a wasp. Mud daubers, yellow jackets, all species of hornets, paper wasps, and more, all belong in the wasp category. Since “wasps” is a broad term, we went ahead and listed three of the most common wasps that are found in the United States: hornets, paper wasps, and mud daubers. The biggest differences between hornet’s nests, paper wasp nests, and mud dauber nests are physical size and shape, material, and colony size. Hornets have the largest nest out of the three, often with nests as large as a basketball. Paper wasps are hexagonal “umbrellas” that are usually only a few inches wide. Mud daubers live in a 3-4 inches long tube. Materially, hornet nests vs. paper wasp nests are very similar, with the mud dauber being the outlier. Hornets and paper wasps chew wood fibers and mix them with their saliva, making a papery building material. Mud daubers, as their name implies, use clay and mud. Finally, the other major difference is the colony size within the nest. Paper wasps and hornets are social and live in large colonies, while mud daubers are solitary wasps.
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Hornet Nest Vs Wasp Nest: Size
Without a doubt, hornets have the largest nest on our list. When you see a hornet’s nest, you are usually pretty certain what you are looking at. They start off small, but once they are fully built, they average the size of a basketball, although they can get much bigger. These large nests have a single opening and are filled with chambers and tubes, all with different purposes. Paper wasps are the most common wasps humans are likely to see. Their nests are umbrella-shaped as if an umbrella without a handle was floating in the air. They are much smaller than a hornet’s nest, usually measuring 3-4 inches in diameter. The underside of the umbrella is filled with hexagonal cells that wasps duck in and out of. These cells are where the queen lays eggs. There is one queen per nest and she lays one egg at the bottom of each cell. The other wasps in the nest prepare the cells for egg laying and bring food for the queen and the larvae when it hatches. When the larvae reach the pupation stage, the adults seal over the cell entrance creating a cocoon for the larvae. When the new wasp is fully developed, it will chew through the paper covering the cell and takes its place as an adult member of the hive. The cell is then cleaned out and prepared for the queen to lay another egg. Interestingly, There are tiers of the same structure hidden inside the large, basketball-sized, hornet’s nest. While the behavior and shape of wasps, hornets, and bees vary widely, they all use the same hexagon-shaped cells to raise their young. Mud daubers have the smallest nests of the three. They build small tubes, usually only 2 inches wide and 4-6 inches long. They will occasionally add to them, but they are still smaller, mostly because they are solitary wasps.
Hornet Nest Vs Wasp Nest: Material
Material is a great way to distinguish certain wasp nests from one another. A hornet’s nest appears papery, mostly because it actually is. Hornets chew wood fibers into a pulp and then add their saliva to it. This mud is their primary building material and is essentially a form of paper. Layered together, however, it can be strong and durable in most weather conditions. Paper wasps do something similar to hornets. They also chew wood pulp and mix it with their own saliva to create a building material. Instead of layering it into huge balls as hornets do, however, they turn it into hexagonal columns and passages with an overall smaller form factor. Mud daubers are unique in their nest building. As their name would imply, they find dirt and clay, mix it with their saliva, and plaster it onto surfaces. Like human constructions involving mud, these structures are rather durable and can withstand a lot of environmental conditions.
Hornet Nest: Different Types
The only species of true hornets in the U.S. is the European hornet. They are other common wasps and bee species that many call hornets; however, there are several differences that make hornet nest different than other species.
Bald-Faced hornet nests
Bald-Faced hornet nest in trees or large bushes at least a few feet off the ground. These pests may also hang their nests from roofs of buildings or houses. A bald-faced hornet hive is egg-shaped and can reach up to two feet in length! Overhangs are typical sites for this kind of hornet nest.
European hornet hives
European hornets nest in open walls or tree cavities and will often reside in attics or sheds. These pests hide their odd shaped nests in dark, hollow spaces, and only a small section of the nest may be visible to the human eye. Unlike the bald-faced hornet, European hornets will build the entrance to its hornet nest more than six feet above ground.
Hornet Nest Vs Wasp Nest: Colony size
Colony size and capacity is another important factor that distinguishes certain nests from one another. Hornets have the largest nests of the three and subsequently have the largest colonies. On average, a hornet’s nest can house as many as 100-700 hornets, with some having even more. All the more reason not to poke the hornet’s nest! Paper wasps have smaller nests and smaller colonies. On average, a paper wasp will have between 20-30 individuals, mostly determined by the weather and their ability to build. In the winter, most of them die out and the cycle restarts. In some places, however, a wasp nest can become truly massive if left alone. Mud daubers are unlike the other two in that they are known as “solitary” wasps. Solitary wasps don’t have associated colonies and are known for their hunting ability and paralytic venom. Mud daubers almost exclusively eat spiders and will paralyze them with a sting, lay an egg inside of them, and then seal them in a mud tube to grow their young.
Hornet Nest Vs Wasp Nest: Location
Hornets generally prefer large branches of trees that can support the weight of their nests. If a suitable tree isn’t available, they are ok with anything that has covering and room underneath for growth. Paper wasps are less choosy than hornets. Their only real stipulation is that the location is semi-covered. As a result, humans often find their nests on their eaves, under porches, and in other places they really don’t want them. Mud daubers have similar preferences to paper wasps in that they like covered areas. You can find them under bridges and in outdoor gazeboes, but they will live pretty much anywhere there is dirt and a place to eat spiders.
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