What is the difference between a wasp and a hornet?

Vy_lette

Wasp and hornet are somewhat generic terms - that is why we have scientific names! What most people call a "hornet" is the bald-faced hornet, which builds large - up to basketball size - paper nests in trees. Yellow-jackets are closely related and may be called either wasps or hornets. In the eastern U.S. there are 2 common yellow jackets, nearly identical in appearance, a native one lives in the ground and a European import more likely in buildings. Bald faced hornets and yellow jackets are all in the subfamily Vespinae. Many other related insects are called wasps, often they are more narrow-waisted than the Vespas and either solitary or have only relatively small social colonies. They include potters and paper wasps that attach small nests to buildings and many other kinds. Many more types are less well known, a good guide like the Peterson Field Guide to Insects will give you an outline. http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/zoo00/zoo00258.htm Jul 13 07, 10:12 AM

crotalus77

According to this site the terms are generic and most often when people talk about hornets they are referring to the bald faced hornet which is common in the US. But both are in the family vespa so they all are technically wasps. http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/zoo00/zoo00258.htm Jul 13 07, 10:13 AM

lakers88

Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps, reaching up to 45 millimetres (1.8 inches) in length. A wasp is any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is not a bee or ant. These definitions are from wikipedia.org. Jul 13 07, 10:15 AM

crotalus77

I hate it when that happens. Jul 13 07, 10:15 AM