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Bald-Faced Hornets in Delaware: How to Spot Them and Get Rid of Them
Gray paper nest in a tree or eave? Learn how to spot bald-faced hornets, when a nest can be left alone, and how Wolfe Pest Control treats hornet nests.
Quick facts
- Bald-faced hornets are black and white, not yellow.
- Their gray paper nests can grow bigger than a basketball.
- A colony can reach 300 to 400 hornets by fall.
- A high nest away from people can sometimes be left alone.
What they look likeSignsAre they dangerous?How we treat themPreventionFAQ
What do they look like?
Bald-faced hornets are large, heavy-bodied wasps, about 3/4 inch long, marked black and white. Their nest is the giveaway. It's a mottled gray paper nest, often shaped like a football, hanging in trees and shrubs or under overhangs. Nests can grow bigger than a basketball. Sometimes they build in attics, wall voids, or under decks.
Signs you have them
- A gray, papery, football-shaped nest in a tree, shrub, or under an eave
- Large black and white wasps flying around the nest
- Hornets coming and going from an attic, wall, or under a deck
Are they dangerous?
Like other wasps, bald-faced hornets mostly sting when they're defending the nest. By fall a colony can reach 300 to 400 hornets, so getting too close to a big nest can mean multiple stings. Anyone with a sting allergy should keep well away and let a pro handle it.
When are they active?
One queen starts each nest in spring, and it grows through the summer. Colonies die off by late fall or early winter, and old nests aren't reused.
How Wolfe treats them
For nests on or near the house, we treat at dusk, when most hornets are inside. If a nest is high in a tree and away from where people walk, it may be fine to leave it, since the colony dies off by early winter. We'll tell you honestly which it is. Nests in wall voids need a pro. All of our work comes with a 30-day warranty. If pests come back within 30 days of a treatment, call us and we'll come back out at no extra charge.
How to keep them out
- Check trees and shrubs for nests before you trim.
- Caulk gaps and repair screens so they can't build inside.
- Keep food and drinks covered outside.
- Leave old winter nests alone. They're empty and won't be reused.
Common questions
Do I need to remove an empty nest in winter?
Usually not. Nests are abandoned by winter and aren't reused.
There's a nest high in a tree. Should I worry?
If it's well away from where people walk, NC State Extension says it can often be left alone, since the colony dies by late fall or early winter. If it's near a door, deck, or play area, call us.
How big do the nests get?
They can grow bigger than a basketball, with 300 to 400 hornets by fall.
Sources: NC State Extension: Controlling Bald-Faced Hornets and Yellow Jackets; PestWorld (NPMA): Paper Wasps
Last reviewed October 2026 by Wolfe Pest Control.
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