Ecologic Entomology
  • Our Services
    • Integrated Pest Mangement
    • Ant Control
    • Bed Bug Control
    • Cockroach Control
    • Flea Control
    • Fruit Fly Control
    • Infested Heavy Chores
    • Mosquito Control
    • Rodent Control
    • Stinging Insect Control
    • Termite Control With Sentricon®
    • Tick Control
  • Prevention & Solutions
    • Residential
      • Multi-family Housing
    • Commercial
      • Office Buildings
      • Warehouses
      • Retail
      • Restaurants
    • Institutional
      • Health Care Facility
      • Educational Facility
  • Resources
    • COVID-19 Concerns
    • Safety Data Sheets
    • Consulting, Training & Lab Services
    • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program Development
    • Pest Management Seminars
    • Third-party Audit Services
    • Legal Pest Consultant
  • Pest Identification
    • Free Insect Identification
    • What’s Biting Me?
    • Pest Identification Library
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Our Story
    • Our Reviews
    • Save the Bees Project
    • Blog
    • Work With Us
  • Client Portal
  • (888) 780-0110Contact Us

European Hornets, Giant Hornets, Baldfaced Hornets, Paper Wasps

Order/family: Hymenoptera/Vespidae

Scientific Name: Vespula maculate (Baldfaced hornet); Vespa crabro (European, Giant hornets); Polistes spp. (Paper wasps)

Description: These social wasps have a typical “wasp” body type that features a very distinct head with chewing mouthparts, short-elbowed antennae, and large compound eyes. The thorax and abdomen are brightly marked with red, yellow, or brown or black backgrounds. The wasps have four clear or smoky-brown wings and a short, narrow attachment between the thorax and abdomen. The abdomen is spindle-shaped and possesses a long stinger. The giant European hornet is brown and yellow and 3/4” to 1 3/8” long. Paper wasps can be distinguished from yellow jackets and hornets because their abdomen is tapered at the tip and at the point where it joins the thorax. They are sometimes marked with yellow, brown, or red patterns on black and are 5/8” to 3/4” long.

Back to Insect Gallery

Contact Us

We are results oriented with a responsible approach to pest management. Lets work together.

Contact Us

Free Insect I.D.

We provide free insect identification services for electronic submissions for residents of Massachusetts.

Learn More

Copyright Notice

All Rights Reserved. All material appearing on the Ecologic Entomology website (“content”) is protected by copyright under U.S. Copyright laws and is the property of Ecologic Entomology or the party credited as the provider of the content. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, display, perform, modify, create derivative works, transmit, or in any way exploit any such content, nor may you distribute any part of this content over any network, including a local area network, sell or offer it for sale, or use such content to construct any kind of database or promotional materials. You may not alter or remove any copyright or other notice from copies of the content on Ecologic Entomology’s website. Copying or storing any content except as provided above is expressly prohibited without prior written permission from Ecologic Entomology or the copyright holder identified in the individual content’s copyright notice. For permission to use the content on the Ecologic Entomology website, please contact info@ecologicentomology.com. Illustrations © Emily S. Damstra

Our other half, providing information on bed bugs.

Visit Boston Bed Bug Authority Website
  • Our Services
  • Prevention & Solutions
  • Resources
  • Free Insect Identification
  • About Us
  • Reviews
  • Work With Us
  • Contact
  • Follow Us

The future of pest control is here. Call (888) 780-0110 to schedule a consultation.

© 2023 Ecologic Entomology LLC. Website Design by Metropolis.