Head to head
Paper Wasp vs Bald-Faced Hornet
A paper wasp and a bald-faced hornet both build nests out of chewed wood pulp and share many of the same North American habitats, yet the two differ dramatically in nest design, temperament, and even in what they technically are.
| Paper Wasp | Bald-Faced Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Polistes | Dolichovespula maculata |
| True identity | A true paper wasp | A large yellowjacket, not a true hornet |
| Nest structure | Open, exposed hexagonal cells | Large, fully enclosed |
| Temperament | Generally less aggressive | Notably aggressive in nest defence |
| Unusual defence | None notable | Can spray venom toward a threat's eyes |
| Leadership structure | Decided by physical dominance | Typical wasp colony hierarchy |
| Diet | Caterpillars, soft-bodied insects, nectar | Flies, caterpillars, nectar |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Paper Wasp vs Bald-Faced Hornet: common questions
Is the bald-faced hornet actually more dangerous than a paper wasp?
Generally yes — the bald-faced hornet is considered one of the more aggressive stinging insects in North America and can even spray venom toward a threat's eyes, while the paper wasp is typically less aggressive, usually only stinging when its nest is directly disturbed rather than defending it as fiercely as a bald-faced hornet colony would.
How can you tell a paper wasp nest from a bald-faced hornet nest?
A paper wasp builds an open, umbrella-shaped nest with exposed hexagonal cells clearly visible from outside, while a bald-faced hornet builds a large, fully enclosed, greyish paper nest that hides its internal cells completely, making nest structure one of the clearest ways to tell the two apart at a glance.
Is the bald-faced hornet really a hornet?
No, despite its common name, the bald-faced hornet is not a true hornet at all but a large species of yellowjacket, making it more closely related to other North American yellowjackets than to the true hornets found in Europe and Asia, unlike the paper wasp, which belongs to its own well-defined genus, Polistes.