Bald-faced hornets in Florida
Yes — bald-faced hornets are recorded in Florida. The GBIF biodiversity database holds 209 verified bald-faced hornet records from the state — ranking it 33rd nationally. Sightings concentrate in August to October. Onset: immediate severe pain. Duration: swelling for several days.
| Verified records | 209 |
|---|---|
| Peak sightings | August to October |
| State bite season | January to December |
| Active | daytime |
| Habitat | enclosed grey paper nests the size of a football, hanging in trees, on sheds and under eaves |
| Bite appears | immediate severe pain |
Bald-faced hornet bites in Florida: what the mark looks like
Technically a large yellowjacket, black with an ivory-white face, and the most defensive of the group. Multiple stings during a single encounter are typical because the colony responds together and follows for a distance.
Locally, the species most often confused with it are fire ant sting, black widow spider bite, mosquito bite — all of which are also recorded in Florida.
Seek medical care if
Call emergency services now for difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, dizziness or fainting, or hives spreading away from the bite.
- breathing difficulty, throat tightness, faintness, hives away from the site
- multiple stings
- stings to the face or mouth
What else it could be in Florida
These are recorded in Florida too and are the ones most often confused with it here. The differences below are the ones that actually separate them.
| Bald-faced hornet sting | Paper wasp sting | |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | often several — the colony defends aggressively | usually single |
| Where on body | head, neck, arms | hands, head, arms — often while gardening or opening a shutter |
| Appears | immediate severe pain | immediate sharp pain |
| Records here | 209 | 3 |
Bald-faced hornet season in Florida specifically
Records in Florida concentrate in August to October, which is what local sighting data shows rather than a national average — seasonality shifts substantially with latitude. The general bite season in Florida runs January to December.
Because enclosed grey paper nests the size of a football, hanging in trees, on sheds and under eaves, exposure in Florida tends to be concentrated in specific places rather than spread evenly — which is why a bite history ("where were you in the 24 hours before?") narrows the answer faster than the appearance of the mark.
Month by month in Florida
These are the 209 Florida records broken out by the month they were recorded — not a national curve redrawn for the state. Records appear in 12 of the 12 months here. The single busiest month is October with 50 records (24% of the state total).
| Month | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 8 | 4% |
| February | 7 | 3% |
| March | 17 | 8% |
| April | 4 | 2% |
| May | 4 | 2% |
| June | 8 | 4% |
| July | 16 | 8% |
| August | 22 | 11% |
| September | 39 | 19% |
| October | 50 | 24% |
| November | 16 | 8% |
| December | 14 | 7% |
Counts are observations submitted to GBIF, not bites. They tell you when the animal is out and being noticed in Florida; they do not tell you how many people were bitten. The thinnest month with any record at all is April (4).
How Florida compares
Across the 50 states with any bald-faced hornet records, Florida ranks 33rd with 209. The state directly above it is South Carolina (211). Directly below is Iowa (193). The highest count anywhere is New York (3,286).
Inside Florida itself the picture is different again: of the 20 biting species we track with records here, this one is 10th and accounts for <1% of the 30,054 records logged in the state. A species can be common nationally and marginal in one state, or the reverse — which is the whole reason this page exists separately from the national guide.
Care
- leave the area quickly — this species pursues
- cold pack, antihistamine, pain relief
- adrenaline auto-injector if prescribed
Avoiding bald-faced hornets in Florida
- never disturb an enclosed grey paper nest; have it removed professionally
- keep distance when mowing or strimming near trees
Questions
Are there bald-faced hornets in Florida?
Yes. Florida accounts for 209 verified records in GBIF, ranking it 33rd among the 50 states with any records for this species, just behind South Carolina (211). Within Florida it is 10th of the 20 biting species we track here, at <1% of the state's records. Records reflect reporting effort as well as abundance.
When are bald-faced hornets active in Florida?
Florida records peak in August to October. The general bite season in Florida runs January to December.
What does the bite look like?
a large, hot, red swelling with a central point, red. Often several — the colony defends aggressively.
Which month has the most sightings in Florida?
October, with 50 of the 209 Florida records (24%). Records appear in 12 of the 12 months here. This counts sightings submitted to GBIF, not bites.
Get a photo assessment in the app
Everything above is free to read. The app adds what a page cannot: point your camera at the bite and get an assessment of the most likely cause, a severity read, and a day-by-day care plan — including the specific signs that mean you should be seen.
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