If you’ve spotted a large black flying insect in Michigan and searched for “black hornet,” you’re likely looking at one of two species: the bald-faced hornet or the great black wasp. Neither is a true hornet in the strict sense, but both are common across the state and often get lumped under the “black hornet” label. Knowing which one you’re dealing with changes how you should respond.
Two Species You Might Be Seeing
The bald-faced hornet is the more familiar of the two. It’s black with ivory-white markings on its face, legs, and abdomen, and ranges from about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch long. Despite the name, it’s technically a yellowjacket, not a true hornet. It builds the classic football-shaped paper nests you see hanging in trees, shrubs, and sometimes under the eaves of buildings. These nests can reach 24 inches tall and 18 inches across by late summer. A mature colony holds 100 to 400 workers, and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology lists it as one of Michigan’s most common social wasps, found throughout the state.
The great black wasp looks completely different. It’s larger, roughly an inch long, and entirely black with a blue iridescent sheen on its wings. It has a dramatically thin, pinched waist, large compound eyes, and long antennae. Unlike the bald-faced hornet, the great black wasp is solitary. There’s no colony, no paper nest, and no swarm of defenders. A single female digs a burrow about a foot underground, creates tunnels with individual chambers, and stocks each one with a paralyzed insect as food for her larvae. She even uses pebbles or small sticks as tools to seal the chambers shut.
Michigan also has a lesser-known species called the blackjacket, a small black-and-white yellowjacket found in forested areas. Its colonies are small, fewer than 100 workers, and its nests are underground. You’re less likely to encounter one, but it’s worth knowing it exists if you’re in wooded northern Michigan.
How Aggressive Are They?
This is where the two main species differ sharply. Bald-faced hornets are colonial and territorial. They will defend their nest aggressively if they feel it’s threatened, and disturbing a nest, even from several feet away, can trigger a group response. They’re attracted to porch lights if their nest is nearby, which increases the chance of surprise encounters at night. They’re only considered pests when a nest sits somewhere people regularly pass through.
Great black wasps are far more docile. Females can sting, and it’s painful, but they rarely bother people who aren’t actively threatening them. Males don’t have stingers at all. Because they’re solitary and have no colony to protect, they lack the defensive aggression that makes bald-faced hornets intimidating. If you see a large black wasp hovering near the ground in your yard, she’s probably just digging a nest burrow and will ignore you.
What to Do if You Get Stung
For a normal sting, gently brush the insect away and walk calmly from the area. If a stinger is left behind (more common with bees than wasps), scrape it out with your fingernail rather than squeezing it, which can push more venom into the skin. Wash the site with soap and water, apply a cold compress, and use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for itching and swelling. An antihistamine and a pain reliever like ibuprofen can help with the remaining discomfort. Elevating the affected limb also reduces swelling.
A small percentage of people develop a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Warning signs include swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing or wheezing, dizziness or fainting, stomach pain or vomiting, and a sudden feeling that something is seriously wrong. These symptoms involve multiple body systems and require immediate emergency care. If you have a known stinging insect allergy, use your epinephrine auto-injector right away after a sting. If you’re experiencing a severe reaction for the first time, call 911.
Dealing With a Nest on Your Property
If a great black wasp has dug a burrow in your yard, you probably don’t need to do anything. She’s a beneficial pollinator (her body is covered in fine hairs that collect pollen) and a predator of pest insects. The burrow is temporary and won’t cause structural damage. If the location is truly problematic, simply covering the entrance after the wasp has left for the day will encourage her to relocate.
Bald-faced hornet nests are a different situation. A nest tucked high in a tree, well away from foot traffic, can safely be left alone. The colony dies off each winter, and next year’s queen will build a new nest somewhere else. But a nest near a doorway, playground, or walkway is a real hazard, especially since disturbing it accidentally can provoke a swarm.
If you decide to handle removal yourself, plan your approach during daylight but do the actual work at night, when the wasps are less active, less able to see, and all inside the nest. Observe from 10 to 15 feet away to map their flight path and avoid it. Ready-to-use aerosol wasp sprays can reach 15 to 20 feet, letting you treat the nest from a safer distance. Wear long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks, closed-toed shoes, chemical-resistant gloves, and eye protection. A thick, loose-fitting sweatshirt layered over another shirt works nearly as well as a bee suit, because stingers can puncture fabric but usually can’t reach skin through baggy, layered clothing. A mosquito head net helps keep wasps away from your face and masks your breath, which they use to locate targets.
Never spray only the outside of the nest and walk away. This agitates the colony without eliminating it, increasing your risk of stings over the following days. If you have a known allergy to stinging insects, don’t attempt removal at all.
Hiring a Professional
Professional nest removal typically costs over $100, but it comes with significant advantages. The technician takes on the sting risk, brings the right tools, and carries liability insurance for any property damage. For nests in hard-to-reach spots, near children’s play areas, or on commercial property, professional removal is the safer and more practical choice.
Telling Them Apart at a Glance
- Bald-faced hornet: Black with white facial markings and white patches on the body. About 13 to 20 mm long. Builds large, grey, papery nests in trees or on buildings. Social and defensive near the nest.
- Great black wasp: Solid black with blue-sheen wings. About 22 to 28 mm long. Nests underground in solitary burrows. Calm around people and rarely stings.
- Blackjacket: Small, black and white, similar in shape to a yellowjacket. Found in forested areas with small underground colonies of fewer than 100 workers.
Both the bald-faced hornet and the great black wasp play useful roles in Michigan’s ecosystem. They prey on flies, caterpillars, and other pest insects, and the great black wasp doubles as a pollinator. Unless a nest is in a high-traffic area or someone in your household has a sting allergy, coexistence is often the simplest approach.