How Dangerous Are Hornets Around Houston?

During the warm summer and fall months, one group of pests is particularly terrifying. Wasps and hornets can make spending time in your Houston yard nearly impossible, and while they don’t always sting people, it’s not uncommon for an attack to occur if they feel threatened.

Many people wonder what the difference between wasps and hornets is, but the fact is that hornets are just a subset of wasps. So, basically, all hornets are wasps, but not all wasps are hornets. Hornets are the biggest of all the species of eusocial wasps. They are also the most dangerous and tend to be the most aggressive.

While there are many different species of hornets, they do share certain characteristics. We’ve collected a short guide to help you identify hornets in your yard and tell them apart from other wasps species.

• Most hornets in the United States are brown with yellow-orange stripes or black with white stripes.
• They tend to be about 1 inch long.
• One of the best ways to identify them from other wasps is by their thicker midsections while other wasps have narrow waists.
• They only build aerial nests.

Why Are Hornets So Dangerous?

If you’re stung by any wasp or bee, it can be dangerous if you’re allergic. However, there are even risks for people who aren’t allergic to the venom of stinging insects, and this is especially true with hornets. Hornets are considered much more dangerous than other species of wasps for a few reasons:

1. Hornets have a much more potent venom than many other species due in part to their size. For example, they can inject seven times more venom than a honey bee. 
2. The venom from a hornet sting can be fatal in rare cases, and people with allergies have a much higher risk.
3. Their stings are also more dangerous because they have the ability to sting and inject venom over and over.
4. They are a social species and sometimes many hornets will attack a victim at once.

How Can You Protect Yourself From Hornets?

The fact is that hornets are very dangerous pests to have around your property. Because of this, taking measures to protect yourself and others around you from these risks is vital. The best way to take on hornet prevention is to work to make your yard less appealing to them. These preventive steps can’t completely ensure you’ll never have hornets, but they can decrease the risk. Some of the best hornet-prevention methods include:

1. As they are attracted to the smell of human food, especially sweet scents, clean up any outdoor food waste and spills.
2. Regularly clean outdoor garbage cans and make sure they have tight-fitting covers.
3. Keep water features such as fountains and hot tubs treated with the correct chemicals.
4. Try to keep covers on pools and hot tubs.
5. Avoid overplanting, especially flowering plants and vegetation.
6. Keep bushes, shrubs, and trees trimmed. 
7. Get ongoing pest control help from professionals.

The Safest Way To Remove Hornets From Your Yard

Trying to get rid of an existing hornet infestation is extremely dangerous. Attempting to remove a nest is when you’re most likely to be attacked and stung by these stinging insects, and even inactive nests could still have hornets in them. The most effective and safest way to protect your Houston home from hornets and other wasps is to get in touch with the professional team at Cantu Pest & Termite. With over 30 years of experience, we can handle any hornet issues to keep you and your family safe. Contact us today to get a free quote on home pest control in Houston.