How do you tell if it's a hornet?

How do you tell if it's a hornet involves checking size, coloration, body shape, behavior, and nest type, as hornets are larger wasps that can be confused with yellow jackets and paper wasps. Size is key, hornets are generally larger than yellow jackets, about 1 to 1.5 inches for bald-faced hornets and European hornets, up to 2 inches for Asian giant hornets, while yellow jackets are about 0.5 inch. Coloration helps, bald-faced hornets are black and white with white face and white markings on abdomen, European hornets are brown and yellow striped with reddish-brown thorax and yellow and brown legs, unlike bright yellow and black yellow jackets. Body shape, hornets have robust, thicker bodies with wider heads and larger mandibles and less constricted waist than slender paper wasps that have long legs dangling in flight. Behavior, hornets are social and defend nests vigorously and can sting multiple times, and they are active day and sometimes at night attracted to lights, and they prey on other insects. Nest type, hornets build large enclosed paper nests with single entrance, football-shaped, in trees, shrubs, under eaves, or wall cavities, larger than paper wasp open comb nests. If insect is large, robust, black and white or brown and yellow, and has large enclosed paper nest, it is likely hornet, and you should avoid disturbing and contact professional pest control if near home.