Hornet Sting: Identification and Aftercare

Hornets (from the Vespa genus) are known for being territorial insects that can inflict painful stings when threatened. Like honeybees, hornet stings can cause allergic reactions—even anaphylaxis. Learn how to identify hornet stings and care for them properly.

HOW TO IDENTIFY A HORNET

Hornets are a type of wasp. Like wasps, they have six legs, wings, and typically 3 body segments (head, thorax, and abdomen).

SIZE

Hornets are typically larger than other wasps and can be upwards of an inch long.

COLORING

While wasps and bees are usually just yellow and black, hornets can include colors in the white, red, brown, and orange families.

NEST

Hornet nests are often large and conical, made of chewed-up wood and paper materials, and resemble paper mache.

HORNET LOOK-ALIKES

YELLOW JACKETS

People sometimes confuse yellow jackets and hornets because they build similar nests and have similar behavior. And it’s with good reason: yellow jackets are from the same family as hornets, and both insects are very territorial. Yellow jackets are smaller than hornets, however.

HONEYBEES

Unlike hornets and wasps, honeybees do not usually build nests around your home. These insects prefer to create hives in trees and hollow spaces. Honeybees also lose their stinger when they sting, making them less likely to attack unless disturbed. A hornet, on the other hand, can sting multiple times because it doesn’t lose its stinger.

BITING FLIES

Horseflies, stable flies, deerflies, and biting midges are all commonly found in the United States and will bite humans. Fly bites more closely resemble a mosquito bite rather than a hornet sting. If you’ve been bitten by a fly you might notice a raised red bump on your skin.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET STUNG BY A HORNET?

Like other wasps, hornets retain their stinger when they sting you, which means they can attack you multiple times in a row. If you get stung by a hornet, you will feel a sharp painful pinch, followed by a burning sensation.

VENOM COMPOUNDS

The sharp pain and lingering symptoms occur because hornet stings contain venom full of chemical compounds, causing your body to react immediately. Some of the substances found in hornet venom include enzymes that break down cell membranes, neurotransmitters that signal a nervous system response, and compounds that tell your body to release histamine.

HORNET STING APPEARANCE

With this cocktail of venom coursing through your bloodstream, hornet stings understandably leave a mark. The skin around a hornet’s sting will be raised, inflamed, and red. Often you’ll see a small red point where the stinger was inserted, a yellow or white circle around that point, and then red patchy skin radiating out from there. This is because your body is attempting to flush out the venom.

Because of the histamine response, a lot of people develop one or multiple hives around a hornet sting.

HORNET VENOM ALLERGIC RESPONSE

If you have an allergy to hornet venom, your reaction to a hornet sting could be very serious—even lethal. If you develop any of the following symptoms after a hornet sting, seek medical attention immediately.

Shortness of breath
Tightness in the throat
Swelling of the lips, eyes, or tongue
Wheezing
Dizziness

HOW DO YOU TREAT A HORNET STING?

When you get stung by a hornet, your body reacts immediately. The sooner you respond with soothing treatment, the better.

Seek medical attention if you experience a severe reaction, or if you have symptoms that will not go away. A typical insect sting should improve within 5–10 days.

Here are a few tips for hornet sting treatment.

CLEAN THOROUGHLY

The first thing to do when you’ve been stung by a hornet is clean the area with soap and water to prevent infection. One other thing to note is that hornets do not leave their stinger behind, so you won’t need to worry about removing it (like you would with a bee sting).

COLD COMPRESS

You will likely feel pain radiating from the site of the sting. Applying ice or a cold compress can help immensely with the discomfort and will also help reduce swelling.

MEDICATION

Pain and discomfort can continue throughout the day and might make it difficult to sleep. An over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen can help with both pain and swelling. An antihistamine can also help reduce itching and edema (swelling).

MONITOR SYMPTOMS

After treating your hornet sting, be sure to monitor your symptoms to see if anything changes. Any open wound is prone to infection—even a tiny puncture from a hornet. Watch for signs of infection such as warmth, red streaks on the skin, or pus oozing from the wound.

HOW CAN I AVOID BEING STUNG BY A HORNET?

The best way to avoid getting stung by a hornet is to steer clear of suspected hornet nests and do not disturb them. These pests can quickly become aggressive if they feel threatened, so give nests a wide berth.

Don’t attempt to remove a hornet’s nest on your own. Remember—hornets can sting you multiple times in a row. If a whole colony of hornets is antagonized by you trying to remove their nest, you could end up with hundreds of stings before eliminating these pests.

At Joshua’s Pest Control, we have years of expert experience in removing hornets, their nests, and other stinging insects from homes and yards. Our friendly field experts use professional-grade products to ensure pests are gone—and stay gone. Contact us today about eliminating hornets and their nests in your area.

SOURCES

Author Bio

Courtney Enzor has worked in the pest control industry for about a decade. From helping you build a fly trap to giving you the best tips for identifying various bugs, she loves answering all your pest-related questions and sharing her pest-related expertise through writing. At the end of the day, she hopes her content will help people avoid mishaps and keep families happy and healthy!

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