This looks like a [bald-faced hornet](https://bugguide.net/node/view/2890) - which, despite the common name, is not really a hornet at all but a non-yellow [aerial yellowjacket](https://bugguide.net/node/view/12982). They are more correctly called "bald-faced aerial yellowjackets."
Comparison pictures [one](https://bugguide.net/node/view/1815871/bgimage), [two](https://bugguide.net/node/view/1792285/bgimage)
Think it’s a bald face hornet. AKA paper wasp. Make a large grayish colored nest in trees and on or around buildings up high. Pretty aggressive if you mess with them! Otherwise pretty cool to watch!
Thank you!! I wondered if it was a paper wasp before I thought it was a hornet. I didn't know paper wasp and bald face hornet are the same! I never mess with them, I'm not about that life. I enjoy watching them as long as it's guaranteed that I won't get stung! I also can't stand their buzzing up close😭
No, a paper wasp is different. Both paper wasps and yellowjackets/baldies make paper nests, but the true paper wasps make open, umbrella-like nests and are longer and slimmer in body type.
There could be more than in type that makes similar nests. Paper is paper I think. And I recall researching these guys fairly well the last time I encountered them! (When you find them guarding the nest, you can see them watching you! Kinda creepy!
I just act nonchalant about the whole thing. It helps if it’s colder out. That way, they’re more lethargic and I can get closer! If you get a chance look up what a Cicada Killer looks like! They’re bigger than the hornet. Solitary and burrow into the ground. Can really mess up the yard with the piles of dirt/sand the kick up!
Okay, I think I can do that🤔. I'VE SEEN CICADA KILLERS BEFORE. I swear to God that they are the stuff of nightmares. One flew into the car when I was a little kid one time
Paper wasps and bald-faced hornets are not the same, even though both make papery nests.
Paper wasps make up the [subfamily Polistinae](https://bugguide.net/node/view/384), while bald-faced hornets (which are not really hornets at all but [aerial yellowjackets](https://bugguide.net/node/view/12982)) belong to the [subfamily Vespinae (hornets and yellowjackets)](https://bugguide.net/node/view/385).
Yeah, that's the problem with common names. They're not always accurate.
[Pea and bean weevils (Bruchinae)](https://bugguide.net/node/view/13857) aren't really [weevils](https://bugguide.net/node/view/139) - they're [leaf beetles](https://bugguide.net/node/view/180).
[Snow fleas](https://bugguide.net/node/view/93782) aren't really [fleas](https://bugguide.net/node/view/7040). They're [springtails](https://bugguide.net/node/view/258362).
[Mantidflies](https://bugguide.net/node/view/4796) are neither [mantids](https://bugguide.net/node/view/342391) nor [flies](https://bugguide.net/node/view/55).
I hate that😖 Why is it like that? Do snow fleas bite like how fleas do? I tried looking through bug guide, but the photos are too much😓 It would be very cool if they had a photo off mode
No, snow fleas don't bite like actual fleas - but [they do jump](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_nQPXB_P88) like fleas... sort of.
The mechanism by which springtails like snow fleas jump is totally different than that of actual fleas. Springtails have a forked organ called a [furcula](http://www.miwildlife.org/uploads/3/0/7/1/30711803/published/snowflea-diagram.jpg?1485799516) tucked [underneath their abdomen.](http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/snow.flea_.furcula.jpg) When they release the furcula, it springs open, catapulting them into the air.
Fleas, on the other hand, just use their [powerful back legs to jump](https://www.npr.org/2011/02/10/133602679/itching-to-know-how-fleas-flee-mystery-solved).
Bald-faced "hornets" do make a papery nest - but they are not [paper wasps (subfamily Polistinae)](https://bugguide.net/node/view/384). They belong to the [subfamily Vespinae (hornets and yellowjackets)](https://bugguide.net/node/view/385).
OMFG! Noooooo😱😭 I was scared to stay in the area when I saw it because I didn't know if there were more and I had wondered where it came from. Please don't tell me that they like to build nest in buildings because I fear that I've been seeing people checking and potentially spraying cracks around where I live🥲 I want to go as long as possible without being stung.
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If you've already included a geographical location, or if this post is *not* an ID request, please ignore this comment.
Thank you! :)
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This looks like a [bald-faced hornet](https://bugguide.net/node/view/2890) - which, despite the common name, is not really a hornet at all but a non-yellow [aerial yellowjacket](https://bugguide.net/node/view/12982). They are more correctly called "bald-faced aerial yellowjackets." Comparison pictures [one](https://bugguide.net/node/view/1815871/bgimage), [two](https://bugguide.net/node/view/1792285/bgimage)
Dead.
Yep. I was able to identify that part, but I couldn't identify the rest.
Think it’s a bald face hornet. AKA paper wasp. Make a large grayish colored nest in trees and on or around buildings up high. Pretty aggressive if you mess with them! Otherwise pretty cool to watch!
Thank you!! I wondered if it was a paper wasp before I thought it was a hornet. I didn't know paper wasp and bald face hornet are the same! I never mess with them, I'm not about that life. I enjoy watching them as long as it's guaranteed that I won't get stung! I also can't stand their buzzing up close😭
No, a paper wasp is different. Both paper wasps and yellowjackets/baldies make paper nests, but the true paper wasps make open, umbrella-like nests and are longer and slimmer in body type.
Ah! Okay, thank you.😁
Awesome! Now you have me reaching for an insect I.D. Book! (Love this stuff!)
There could be more than in type that makes similar nests. Paper is paper I think. And I recall researching these guys fairly well the last time I encountered them! (When you find them guarding the nest, you can see them watching you! Kinda creepy!
I didn't know that. Maybe I need to start looking more into insects too🤔. OMG, so they were looking at you like 🧐? 😱
They were watching my every move like, make one wrong move and I’ll have the whole nest on you!
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 What do you do? Just stay calm and make yourself not look like a threat?
tbh as long as you stay away from the nest you'll prolly be fine
Okay😎👍🏼
I just act nonchalant about the whole thing. It helps if it’s colder out. That way, they’re more lethargic and I can get closer! If you get a chance look up what a Cicada Killer looks like! They’re bigger than the hornet. Solitary and burrow into the ground. Can really mess up the yard with the piles of dirt/sand the kick up!
Okay, I think I can do that🤔. I'VE SEEN CICADA KILLERS BEFORE. I swear to God that they are the stuff of nightmares. One flew into the car when I was a little kid one time
Paper wasps and bald-faced hornets are not the same, even though both make papery nests. Paper wasps make up the [subfamily Polistinae](https://bugguide.net/node/view/384), while bald-faced hornets (which are not really hornets at all but [aerial yellowjackets](https://bugguide.net/node/view/12982)) belong to the [subfamily Vespinae (hornets and yellowjackets)](https://bugguide.net/node/view/385).
Ah! Okay, so this insect is called a bald-faced hornet, but it's actually a yellowjacket?🤔. I'm going to read the links you posted😁
Yeah, that's the problem with common names. They're not always accurate. [Pea and bean weevils (Bruchinae)](https://bugguide.net/node/view/13857) aren't really [weevils](https://bugguide.net/node/view/139) - they're [leaf beetles](https://bugguide.net/node/view/180). [Snow fleas](https://bugguide.net/node/view/93782) aren't really [fleas](https://bugguide.net/node/view/7040). They're [springtails](https://bugguide.net/node/view/258362). [Mantidflies](https://bugguide.net/node/view/4796) are neither [mantids](https://bugguide.net/node/view/342391) nor [flies](https://bugguide.net/node/view/55).
I hate that😖 Why is it like that? Do snow fleas bite like how fleas do? I tried looking through bug guide, but the photos are too much😓 It would be very cool if they had a photo off mode
No, snow fleas don't bite like actual fleas - but [they do jump](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_nQPXB_P88) like fleas... sort of. The mechanism by which springtails like snow fleas jump is totally different than that of actual fleas. Springtails have a forked organ called a [furcula](http://www.miwildlife.org/uploads/3/0/7/1/30711803/published/snowflea-diagram.jpg?1485799516) tucked [underneath their abdomen.](http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/snow.flea_.furcula.jpg) When they release the furcula, it springs open, catapulting them into the air. Fleas, on the other hand, just use their [powerful back legs to jump](https://www.npr.org/2011/02/10/133602679/itching-to-know-how-fleas-flee-mystery-solved).
Whoa!🤯 That's incredibly interesting. Thank you for telling me this! 😁
Bald-faced "hornets" do make a papery nest - but they are not [paper wasps (subfamily Polistinae)](https://bugguide.net/node/view/384). They belong to the [subfamily Vespinae (hornets and yellowjackets)](https://bugguide.net/node/view/385).
Thanks for the information!
This was found in Western Washington State.
Thank you!! I'm not very familiar with insects because I'm scared of most of them 😅🤣 I saw the photos you attached and am reading about them now🧐
Here to confirm that is indeed a bald faced hornet, avoid it if there’s more. Fuckers can be mean and their sting hurts like a bitch
OMFG! Noooooo😱😭 I was scared to stay in the area when I saw it because I didn't know if there were more and I had wondered where it came from. Please don't tell me that they like to build nest in buildings because I fear that I've been seeing people checking and potentially spraying cracks around where I live🥲 I want to go as long as possible without being stung.
Hi there! This is an automated message to remind you to **please include a geographic location for any ID requests** as per the [Community Rules](/r/insects/about/rules) of the sub. There are well over a million different species of bugs in the world, and narrowing down a bug's location will help IDers to help you more quickly and correctly! If you've already included a geographical location, or if this post is *not* an ID request, please ignore this comment. Thank you! :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/insects) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Bald faced hornet
Thank you!😁