Bald-Faced Hornets in the Lower Mainland of BC: What Every Homeowner Should Know

If you’ve noticed a large black-and-white flying insect buzzing around your yard this summer, chances are you’ve encountered a bald-faced hornet. Despite their name, bald-faced hornets aren’t true hornets—they’re actually a type of aerial yellowjacket wasp native to British Columbia. They are common throughout the Lower Mainland, including Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Delta, Langley, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, and surrounding communities.

At Go Green Pest Control, we safely remove bald-faced hornet nests throughout the Lower Mainland. If you discover a nest on your property, call 778-886-4111 for fast, professional service.

What Do Bald-Faced Hornets Look Like?

Bald-faced hornets are easy to identify by their distinctive appearance:

• Black body with bold white markings on the face and abdomen
• Approximately 15–20 mm (¾ inch) long
• Fast, powerful flyers
• Build large grey, football-shaped paper nests

Many people mistake them for the invasive Northern Giant Hornet (formerly called the Asian Giant Hornet), but bald-faced hornets are a native species in British Columbia. Provincial authorities identify them as one of the insects most commonly mistaken for invasive hornets.

Where Do They Build Their Nests?

Bald-faced hornets construct impressive paper nests using chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva.

Common nesting locations include:

• Cedar hedges
• Trees and shrubs
• House eaves
• Decks and patios
• Garages
• Sheds
• Play structures
• Dense landscaping

In the Lower Mainland, nests often begin in late spring and can grow to the size of a basketball—or even larger—by late summer.

Are Bald-Faced Hornets Dangerous?

While bald-faced hornets are beneficial predators that feed on flies, caterpillars, aphids, and other insects, they become highly defensive when protecting their nest.

Unlike honeybees, they can sting multiple times without dying. If a nest is disturbed, dozens of workers may attack at once.

Their stings can cause:

• Immediate intense pain
• Swelling and redness
• Allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
• Multiple stings if the colony feels threatened

Anyone experiencing difficulty breathing, facial swelling, dizziness, or signs of an allergic reaction after being stung should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Why Are Bald-Faced Hornets More Active in Late Summer?

Homeowners often notice more hornets during August and September.

By late summer:

• Colonies reach their largest size
• Hundreds of workers are actively foraging
• Food demand increases
• Hornets become more defensive around their nest

This is also when accidental encounters become more common as people work in their gardens, trim hedges, or enjoy their patios.

Should You Remove the Nest Yourself?

DIY removal is not recommended.

Store-bought sprays often fail to eliminate the entire colony and can agitate the insects, increasing the risk of multiple stings. Climbing ladders while dealing with aggressive hornets adds another level of danger.

Professional pest control technicians have the proper protective equipment and treatment methods to safely eliminate nests.

Eco-Responsible Hornet Control

At Go Green Pest Control, we focus on targeted treatments that eliminate the nest while minimizing unnecessary pesticide use.

Our technicians:

• Identify the species correctly
• Locate the entire colony
• Apply professional treatments safely
• Remove or deactivate the nest
• Help prevent future nesting around your property

Our goal is to protect your family, pets, and property while using responsible pest management practices.

Tips to Reduce Hornet Activity Around Your Home

Although you can’t prevent every nest, these simple steps can reduce the chances of attracting bald-faced hornets:

• Inspect your property regularly during spring and early summer.
• Trim overgrown hedges and trees.
• Seal openings around sheds and outbuildings.
• Keep garbage bins tightly closed.
• Clean up fallen fruit from trees.
• Avoid disturbing any paper nests you discover.

Early detection makes removal much easier and safer.

Serving the Entire Lower Mainland

Go Green Pest Control proudly serves homeowners and businesses throughout:

• Vancouver
• Burnaby
• Richmond
• Delta
• Surrey
• Langley
• White Rock
• Coquitlam
• Port Coquitlam
• Port Moody
• Maple Ridge
• Pitt Meadows
• Abbotsford
• Mission
• New Westminster
• North Vancouver
• West Vancouver

Need Bald-Faced Hornet Removal?

If you’ve found a hornet nest on your property, don’t take chances.

Go Green Pest Control provides prompt, professional bald-faced hornet removal throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

Call 778-886-4111 today to schedule an inspection or emergency hornet nest removal.

Protect your family and enjoy your outdoor space with safe, reliable pest control from your local experts.

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/bald-faced-horne…wner-should-know/