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Stinging Insects

Bald-Faced Hornet

Dolichovespula maculata

Danger Level: 5/5Updated September 2026 · Boise, ID

IdentificationHow to Identify Bald-Faced Hornet

Quick Answer

Bald-faced hornets are large black wasps with bright white markings on their face and the tip of the abdomen. They build enclosed gray paper nests that can grow bigger than a basketball by late summer.

Full identification notes

Each nest has a single entrance hole near the bottom, and you'll usually spot a few workers patrolling it.

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Bald-Faced Hornet Behavior & Habits

Understanding how bald-faced hornet behave helps prevent infestations

Bald-faced hornets are extremely aggressive when defending their nest, and they can sting over and over.

More about their habits

They'll chase you well past the nest if they feel threatened. By August, a single colony can hold 400 to 700 workers. They're useful predators in the yard, but a nest near a doorway or play area is a real problem.

Bald-Faced Hornet Risks & Dangers

What bald-faced hornet can do to your health and property

Health Risks

Bald-faced hornet stings hurt more than most wasp stings because each sting injects a larger dose of venom.

Property Damage

Large nests attached to soffits, eaves, or siding can stain paint and leave behind chewed wood fibers.

Full health and property details

Health Risks

They're aggressive defenders and a single colony can mobilize dozens of workers in seconds. Multiple stings are dangerous even if you're not allergic, and a swarm response near kids or pets is a 911-level event.

Property Damage

Old nests left in place over winter often attract carpet beetles and other secondary pests.

Signs of Bald-Faced Hornet Infestation

Look for these indicators in your home

Signs You Have Bald-Faced Hornet

What homeowners spot first

  1. Large gray paper nest in tree or on structure
  2. Enclosed nest with single entry hole
  3. Black wasps with white face markings
More signs to look for
  1. Aggressive response to nearby activity
  2. Wasps patrolling around nest entrance

Bald-Faced Hornet in Boise & the Treasure Valley

Most of our bald-faced hornet calls come in from late July through early October, with a big spike right after the first cool nights when colonies hit peak size.

More on what we see locally

We pull the biggest nests every year out of the North End, Boise's East End, and the older neighborhoods around Hyde Park, where mature trees give queens plenty of nesting spots. Out west in Eagle and Meridian, we see more nests tucked into shed roofs and trampoline frames than in trees.

Our Solution

How We Handle Bald-Faced Hornet

What our approach looks like

We treat bald-faced hornet nests at dusk or after dark when the colony is inside, using full bee suits and a long-reach product that knocks the colony down fast.

Our full approach

After the colony is dead, we physically remove the nest so it can't house other pests. Our $49 initial service includes the nest treatment for subscription customers, with our free re-service guarantee if any stragglers come back.

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How to Prevent Bald-Faced Hornet

Steps you can take to reduce the risk of infestation

  1. Walk your property in May and June, when new queens are starting golf-ball-sized nests that are easy to knock down
  2. Check trees, shrubs, and the underside of soffits within 10 feet of doors and play areas
  3. Keep outdoor trash lids tight and clean up fallen fruit (sugary food draws scouts in late summer)
More prevention steps
  1. Never trim hedges or tall vegetation without scouting for nests first
  2. Seal gaps in eaves, vents, and shed roofs where queens like to start spring nests
  3. Call us for any nest bigger than a softball, especially within 20 feet of the house

Bald-Faced Hornet Questions Answered

Common questions about identification, prevention, and treatment

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How dangerous are bald-faced hornets in Boise?

Quick answerBald-faced hornets are the most aggressive stinging insect we deal with in the Treasure Valley.

They sting repeatedly and will chase you 50 feet or more from the nest. If you have one within 20 feet of a doorway, deck, or play area, get it treated. For anyone with a bee or wasp allergy, even a nest in the back of the yard is worth removing.

When is the best time to remove a bald-faced hornet nest?

Quick answerSpring (May or June) is easiest, when nests are golf-ball or softball sized and only the queen is inside.

By August in Boise, colonies can hit 400 to 700 workers and a treatment has to be done at night. Don't wait until fall hoping the cold will kill them. They stay active in the Treasure Valley right through the first hard freeze.

Will the nest come back next year if we leave it alone?

Quick answerThe colony itself dies off after the first hard freeze and won't reuse the old nest.

But new queens often start a new nest within 50 feet of the old one the following spring, especially if the spot is sheltered. We recommend removing the old nest after the colony dies and treating the area to discourage reuse.

Think You Have Bald-Faced Hornet?

Call and we'll talk through your options. We usually get out within 24 to 48 hours.

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