Do Hornets Make Honey?

Hornets share some of the same visual characteristics as honeybees. Both are common in Florida, but unlike honeybees, hornets do not produce honey.

While honeybees are famous for creating and storing honey inside their hives, hornets have a very different way of living. They do not make honey because their bodies and behaviors are not designed for it. Instead, they are predators that feed on other insects to survive.

Why Don’t Hornets Make Honey?

Many people assume that all flying, stinging insects make honey, but this is not the case. Hornets do not produce honey for several key reasons.

Lack of Biological Capability

Honeybees have special glands that turn nectar into honey, which they store in their hives for food. Hornets lack these glands, so they cannot create or store honey. Instead, they rely on a diet mainly consisting of insects and sugary substances they find in nature.

Immediate Use of Nectar for Energy

Hornets eat sticky nectar from flowers, but they don’t store it as honey. They use the nectar immediately for quick energy.

Honeybees collect lots of nectar. They turn it into honey and store it for later. This helps them survive during colder months when flowers are scarce.

Differences Between Hornets and Bees

Hornets and bees belong to the same insect family but have very different behaviors. Honeybees are pollinators that play a crucial role in helping plants grow by spreading pollen from flower to flower. They produce honey as a long-term food supply for their colony. Hornets are more like natural pest controllers than honey producers.

One other key difference between honeybees and hornets is what happens when they sting. Honeybees have barbed stingers that get stuck in the skin of their target, causing the bee to lose its stinger and die shortly after. You can learn more about this in our article: Do Bees Die After They Sting?

Hornets, however, are aggressive predators that hunt other insects – including honeybees. A single hornet can kill dozens of bees in a short time, and a group of hornets can wipe out an entire honeybee hive in just a few hours. 

What Do Hornets Eat?

Since hornets do not make honey, you might wonder what they eat to survive. Their diet is quite different from that of honeybees.

Nectar as a Food Source

Hornets do consume nectar from flowers, but only as as food for energy. They drink sugary liquids when they need quick fuel, but they do not rely on nectar alone. Unlike bees, they do not collect pollen or play a major role in pollination.

Predatory Diet and Insect Hunting

Much like a wasp’s diet, hornets feel on other insects. They often target honeybees, bumblebees, caterpillars, flies, and even small spiders. By preying on these creatures, hornets help control insect populations, but they can also be a threat to honeybee colonies.

Hornets use their strong jaws to catch and kill their prey. They chew their victims into a pulp, which they then use to feed their young. This aggressive hunting behavior makes them an important part of the ecosystem, even if they are sometimes seen as pests.

Feeding Their Young

Adult hornets do not eat solid food, but they hunt insects to feed their larvae. They capture their prey, chew it up, and turn it into a paste that their young can consume. This high-protein diet helps hornet larvae grow quickly.

Hornets also feed their young sugary substances such as honeydew, which comes from aphids. This helps provide extra energy for their developing larvae.

How Hornets Differ from Honeybees

Hornets and honeybees may look somewhat similar, but their behaviors and colony structures are very different.

Nesting and Hive Behavior

Honeybees build hives out of wax, often inside tree hollows or man-made structures. These hives are carefully maintained and used to store honey. Hornets, however, build large, paper-like nests out of chewed wood fibers. A hornet’s nest is often found hanging from tree branches, roofs, or hidden in bushes.

Hornet nests can grow very large, sometimes housing hundreds of individuals. Unlike honeybee hives, which last for years, hornet nests are abandoned at the end of the season when the colony dies off.

Social Structure of Colonies

A honeybee colony can have thousands of workers that work together to collect nectar and make honey. They have a strict division of labor, with worker bees, drones, and a single queen bee.

Hornet colonies are much smaller and more focused on hunting rather than honey production. Each colony is led by a queen, who lays eggs and ensures the colony’s survival. The workers defend the nest and hunt for food. 

Unlike honeybees, which have many female workers, hornets have fewer members but are more aggressive.

Role in the Ecosystem

Honeybees are essential pollinators that help crops and plants grow by spreading pollen. They are responsible for pollinating many of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers we rely on. Without honeybees, food production would suffer.

Hornets, on the other hand, help control insect populations by preying on other bugs. They reduce the numbers of pests like flies and caterpillars, which can be beneficial for gardens and crops. While both play important roles in nature, hornets can sometimes be a threat to honeybee colonies.

Hornet or honeybee, if you’re dealing with a stinging insect problem near your home, Florida Pest Control can help. Our experts safely treat infestations to protect your family from bees, wasps and hornets. Contact us today for a free inspection.

Do Any Wasps Make Honey?

While hornets do not make honey, some wasp species actually do.

Examples of Wasps That Produce Honey

One rare species, the Mexican honey wasp, does produce honey. Unlike hornets, these wasps collect nectar, process it, and store it in their nests. Their honey is edible and similar to the honey made by bees, though it is not produced in large quantities.

How Honey-Producing Wasps Differ from Hornets

Unlike hornets, honey-producing wasps have a more bee-like diet and behavior. They are less aggressive and focus more on gathering nectar rather than hunting other insects. 

While they share some similarities with bees, they are still wasps and do not produce the same volume of honey as honeybees.

The Danger of Hornets Near Your Home

Hornets can be aggressive, especially when they feel their nest is threatened. Their stings are painful and can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Unlike honeybees, which can only sting once, hornets can sting multiple times. 

If you spot a hornet nest near your Florida home, do not attempt to remove it on your own. Disturbing a hornet nest can provoke an attack, putting you and your family at risk. Instead, trust our expert team to handle the infestation safely and effectively. Contact us today for professional hornet nest removal.

How to Prevent Hornets from Nesting on Your Property

To keep hornets away from your home, follow these tips:

• Seal any gaps or holes in walls and roofs where hornets might build a nest.
• Keep outdoor trash bins tightly closed to avoid attracting insects that hornets prey on.
• Remove fallen fruit from your yard, as it can attract hornets looking for sugary food sources.
• Avoid leaving sugary drinks or food uncovered when spending time outdoors.
• Trim bushes and trees near your home to reduce nesting spots.
• Turn off porch lights in the evenings to avoid attracting them to your home.

If you notice hornet activity around your home, it’s important to take action quickly before they build a nest.

Need Help with Bees, Wasps, or Hornets?

If you have a hornet, wasp, or bee problem near your home, it’s best to call a professional. Hornet and wasp nests can be dangerous, and their stings can be painful. 

Whether it’s yellowjackets, bumblebees, or bald-faced hornets, Florida Pest Control’s licensed experts remove wasp nests, bee hives, and hornet colonies safely.