Bald-faced hornets in Rhode Island
Yes — bald-faced hornets are recorded in Rhode Island. The GBIF biodiversity database holds 160 verified bald-faced hornet records from the state — ranking it 37th nationally. Sightings concentrate in June, August, September, October. Onset: immediate severe pain. Duration: swelling for several days.
| Verified records | 160 |
|---|---|
| Peak sightings | June, August, September, October |
| State bite season | April to October |
| 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 Rhode Island: 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 — all of which are also recorded in Rhode Island.
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 Rhode Island
These are recorded in Rhode Island 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 | Yellowjacket sting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern | often several — the colony defends aggressively | usually single | single or several — this wasp can sting repeatedly |
| Where on body | head, neck, arms | hands, head, arms — often while gardening or opening a shutter | hands, face, neck |
| Appears | immediate severe pain | immediate sharp pain | immediate sharp pain |
| Records here | 160 | 106 | 85 |
Bald-faced hornet season in Rhode Island specifically
Records in Rhode Island concentrate in June, August, September, October, which is what local sighting data shows rather than a national average — seasonality shifts substantially with latitude. The general bite season in Rhode Island runs April to October.
Because enclosed grey paper nests the size of a football, hanging in trees, on sheds and under eaves, exposure in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
These are the 160 Rhode Island 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 August with 49 records (31% of the state total).
| Month | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | 1% |
| February | 1 | <1% |
| March | 1 | <1% |
| April | 9 | 6% |
| May | 12 | 8% |
| June | 16 | 10% |
| July | 14 | 9% |
| August | 49 | 31% |
| September | 28 | 18% |
| October | 21 | 13% |
| November | 3 | 2% |
| December | 2 | 1% |
Counts are observations submitted to GBIF, not bites. They tell you when the animal is out and being noticed in Rhode Island; they do not tell you how many people were bitten. The thinnest month with any record at all is February (1).
How Rhode Island compares
Across the 50 states with any bald-faced hornet records, Rhode Island ranks 37th with 160. The state directly above it is Montana (167). Directly below is Arkansas (118). The highest count anywhere is New York (3,286).
Inside Rhode Island itself the picture is different again: of the 11 biting species we track with records here, this one is 3rd and accounts for 10% of the 1,560 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 Rhode Island
- 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 Rhode Island?
Yes. Rhode Island accounts for 160 verified records in GBIF, ranking it 37th among the 50 states with any records for this species, just behind Montana (167). Within Rhode Island it is 3rd of the 11 biting species we track here, at 10% of the state's records. Records reflect reporting effort as well as abundance.
When are bald-faced hornets active in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island records peak in June, August, September, October. The general bite season in Rhode Island runs April to October.
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 Rhode Island?
August, with 49 of the 160 Rhode Island records (31%). 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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