How to identify it
Also called hornet. Work down these in order — the first one is usually enough on its own.
- Large and heavy-bodied, clearly bigger than a yellowjacket
- Reddish-brown on the thorax rather than black, with a yellow face
- Flies after dark and comes to lit windows — very unusual among wasps
- Nests inside hollow trees, wall voids and attics, within a papery envelope
What it gets mistaken for
Most people arrive at a pest name by ruling things out. These are the ones that genuinely look similar, and the detail that separates them.
Where you will find it
- Hollow trees, wall voids and attic spaces
- Around lit windows after dark
- Rarely out in the open, because the nest is normally concealed
Signs it is already there
You will nearly always see the evidence before you see the pest itself.
- Very large wasps at lit windows after dark
- A steady flight path in and out of a hole in a soffit, wall or hollow tree
- Bark stripped from shrubs and twigs, gnawed for nest material
Medically significant. Can cause injury. Seek medical attention if you are bitten or stung.
Why it is harder to deal with than it looks
This species is uncommon in North Texas, and most 'hornet' reports here turn out to be yellowjackets, paper wasps or cicada killers. Getting the identification right matters because the nest site and the treatment differ — and because the bald-faced hornet people usually mean is black and white, not reddish-brown.
What actually works
Identify before acting. If it genuinely is a European hornet, the nest is concealed in a void or a tree and that is a job for a licensed professional. Never seal the entrance: a colony shut in will chew through into living space. Reducing bright lighting near the house is what stops them arriving at windows.
Common questions
How do I tell a european hornet from a yellowjacket?
Yellowjackets are far smaller, black and bright yellow rather than reddish-brown, and do not fly at night.
How do I tell a european hornet from a paper wasp?
Paper wasps are slimmer with legs that dangle in flight, and build an open comb with no envelope around it.
Where are european hornet usually found in a home?s
Hollow trees, wall voids and attic spaces Around lit windows after dark Rarely out in the open, because the nest is normally concealed.
Is a european hornet dangerous?
A large wasp that defends its nest and can sting repeatedly. Anyone in the household with a sting allergy should treat a suspected nest as urgent.
Identification guidance only. Under Texas law, applying pest control treatments for hire requires a licence from the Texas Department of Agriculture. This page describes what a pest looks like — it is not a diagnosis of your property or a treatment recommendation for it.