05/22/2026
🚨🐝 STINGING INSECT SERIES – PART 2 🐝🚨
👑 “THE QUEEN OF THE FLYING JERKS” HAS ARRIVED ON CAPE COD 👑
This right here is the Bald-Faced Hornet Queen… basically the final boss of the Cape Cod stinging insect world. 😳
And these are REAL photos we took this week while inspecting a home. We caught this queen in the very early stages of nest building under a soffit vent — literally the beginning of what could become a football-sized hornet fortress later this summer.
That little paper comb you see in the photo?
That’s ground zero. ☠️
🐝 FUN FACTS ABOUT BALD-FACED HORNETS:
• A single queen starts the nest completely alone in spring
• She chews wood fibers into a paper-like material to build the nest
• Colonies can explode to 400–700 hornets by late summer
• Nests can grow over 2 feet tall in just a few months
• They are EXTREMELY defensive compared to yellowjackets and paper wasps
⚠️ WHY PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE THESE SERIOUSLY:
Bald-faced hornets don’t just sting… they ATTACK.
If the nest is disturbed, they can swarm quickly and sting multiple times.
On the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, they rank around a 2 out of 4, but many people say they feel much worse because of the amount of venom and how aggressive they are.
Translation:
One sting = bad day
Several stings = potential ER visit 😬
🚑 HEALTH RISKS CAN INCLUDE:
• Severe swelling
• Burning pain
• Allergic reactions
• Difficulty breathing
• Dangerous reactions in sensitive individuals
🏠 COMMON NESTING AREAS:
• Soffits
• Attic vents
• Rake boards
• Decks
• Sheds
• Porch ceilings
This is exactly why spring inspections matter. Catching a queen NOW can stop hundreds of hornets later in the season.
If you’re hearing buzzing around vents or seeing early paper nests forming around your home, now is the time to deal with them before they become a serious problem.
📞 Bayside Pest Control & Home Services
📱 508-737-7464
🌐 www.bayside-pestcontrol.com
📧 [email protected]