Hornets and yellow jackets are closely related, both being members of the Vespidae classification of wasps. Both species typically function in similar ways. Hornets are the larger of these two insects and can be as much as 2.2 inches long. The coloration of hornets and yellow jackets can look similar, but hornets have a dark brown shell and normally only have a single yellow stripe across their backs. Yellow jackets, on the other hand, are primarily black with multiple patterns in yellow. Hornets also have larger, more distinctive heads than most other wasps, and this characteristic can help tell the difference between a hornet and a yellow jacket.
Yellow jackets typically live for the fairly short period of six months to a year, depending on the role they play within the colony. A single queen forms a yellow jacket colony to provide a place for her eggs to hatch. Normally this takes between five and eight days.
Newborn yellow jackets usually take about two weeks to mature into functional adults. Normally, the first group of workers in a colony is female. Other than laying eggs, when those females mature they assume all the functions of the queen, including finding food, enlarging the hive and caring for immature wasps.
The colony’s queen continues to repopulate it with her remaining eggs, but at some point she will die and another dominant female will become the queen. Some males take on the task of fertilizing the queen and never leave the hive except to die or defend their home. Other males in the colony focus on enlarging the hive and foraging for as much food as possible, mainly other insects.
Yellow jackets also pick through leftover human food to feed their colony, but hornets generally do not. Once late fall approaches almost all the wasps in a hive will either already be dead or struggling to find enough food for the queen to be able to hibernate through the winter. With the exception of the queen, all the wasps will be dead by the beginning of winter. If their efforts were adequate the cycle starts up again during the following spring.
Hornets and yellow jackets have similar venom. A single sting from either species does not present a significant threat, unless the person has an allergic reaction. An average of only one person in a thousand will experience symptoms such as a severe headache, difficulty breathing, an elevated pulse rate, or a combination of all three. If any these symptoms occur, immediately seek medical treatment. People who do not have this type of reaction commonly experience localized pain in the region of the sting and possibly soreness and swelling for a few hours after being stung. Most of the discomfort can be alleviated almost immediately by applying an ice pack.
Hornets and yellow jackets are able to sting multiple times and can emit a type of distress signal if they feel something is threatening their hive. The entire hive is likely to attack as a group when this occurs. Being stung multiple times can endanger even people who do not have wasp venom allergies. This fact alone is enough to recommend that large wasp infestations be handled by a professional with the experience and resources required to destroy the colony with a low amount of risk.
If you need Mesa Bee Removal , don’t hesitate to visit www.phoenixbeeremoval.com for more information about removing bees from your home and garden.
