Many animals can destroy hornets’ nests, but the most common predators of hornets’ nests include birds, lizards, and mammals such as badgers and hedgehogs. These mammals are all able to destroy hornets’ nests without too much injury to themselves as they attempt to eat the larvae within.
Although humans can have extremely adverse reactions to hornets, this is not the case for all animals. Keep reading to learn more about the animals that frequently prey on hornets and why they can withstand the insects’ dangerous stings.
Birds That Destroy Hornets’ Nests
Birds are a common foe to hornets’ nests, and certain species, such as bluebirds, tanagers, and catbirds, are known for preying on both wasps and their larvae.
These birds can survive the potential stings from hornets in order to access their nests. They disable hornets by eating them or scraping them against hard surfaces to get rid of their stingers.
Because of birds’ narrow beaks, they can enter the openings in a hornets’ nest and remove larvae. If they find a nest, they may feast on larvae until the nest is effectively destroyed.
Lizards Versus Hornets
Many different species of lizards will often chew through the fiber of a hornets’ nest to access the larvae inside. Lizards are commonly insectivores, meaning that they prey on insects, and they may regard a hornets’ nest as a tasty treat.
Mammals That Destroy Hornets’ Nests
Many mammals can withstand hornet stings and make hornet larvae a regular part of their diet, destroying their nests in search of larvae. The most common mammals that destroy hornets’ nests are the following:
- Badgers
- Hedgehogs
- Skunks
- Bears
- Raccoons
All of these animals are omnivorous. In addition to their diet of plants, they see insects such as hornets as a nice and easy part of their diet.
What Kind of Hornets’ Nests Do Animals Destroy?
Animals can destroy various types of hornets’ nests, but they most often destroy hornets’ nests in areas that are convenient for them to access.
Birds may be drawn to hornets’ nests that hang in trees or other areas that are close to where they commonly live.
Although lizards are very agile and can reach many places, they are also more likely to destroy nests that are closest to their habitats in the trees or on the ground.
Ground-dwelling mammals, such as badgers and skunks, will burrow looking for underground hornets’ nests, and then tear them apart as they eat their larvae. It would be extremely rare or impossible for a mammal to access a hornets’ nest that is hanging from a tree or the eaves of a house.
Are Predators Stung By Hornets?
As animals destroy a hornets’ nest, they may receive stings from the insects who are looking to defend their nests. Many animals that prey on hornets have defenses against their stings.
For lizards, it is often their tough skin or scales that prevent them from great harm. Birds are protected by their feathers and are often too fast for hornets to sting.
Some mammals like hedgehogs have natural built-in protection against hornets, as their spiky skin protects them from injury. Larger mammals like badgers and bears have tough skin and require many hornet stings before they are harmed or affected.
When a hornet stings something, it releases venom. According to the National Library of Medicine, this venom can be painful, and even lethal.
Animals that regularly prey on hornets are usually ones that can withstand the venom and can eat larvae without any negative consequences.
Are Hornet Larvae Poisonous to Animals?
Hornet larvae are not poisonous, which is why they are so desirable to many different species of mammals. The stinger in a hornet does not develop until adulthood, so predators can eat larvae without any fear of being stung by them.
Can I Use Animals to Get Rid of a Hornets’ Nest?
If you have a hornets’ nest in your yard, there are ways to attract hornet predators that may help you get rid of the nest. Although it is very unlikely that you would want to attract large mammals like bears or badgers to your yard, you can strategically attract birds or even lizards.
Attracting Birds to a Hornets’ Nest
Birds are keen hunters, and they will probably be able to tell if you have a hornets’ nest near you. However, you can make it even more appealing by putting a bird feeder nearby.
Birdfeeders are usually filled with birdseed or other edible substances, and birds that are lured to the feeder may notice the hornets’ nest and eat that as well.
Attracting Lizards to a Hornets’ Nest
Lizards may be more difficult to attract, but you can make your yard a haven for lizards by doing the following things:
- Turning on porch lights in the evening to attract insects that lizards will prey on.
- Installing a pond or standing water that will become a source of prey for lizards.
- Add shelters that lizards can hide in, such as dense plants or piles of rocks.
The more lizards that you have in your yard, the more likely they are to notice the hornets’ nest and destroy it as a result.
A Note on Invasive Species
If you wish to use animals to destroy a hornet’s nest, keep in mind that you should never introduce species that are from outside of your area. These animals can upset the natural balance of an ecosystem and become invasive species.
Invasive species, according to the National Wildlife Federation, are living organisms that can have direct harm to the environment to which they are introduced. They will overhunt other animals, or disrupt the food chain in a way that leads to the death and destruction of native plant and animal life.
Although you may wish to introduce a lizard into your backyard that will kill your hornet’s nest, you should not do this unless you are certain that this species is native to your area and will not cause negative consequences in your surrounding environment.
