What could be mistaken for a hornet?

What could be mistaken for a hornet includes several insects that have similar yellow and black coloration, size, and flight patterns that cause confusion, especially yellow jackets, wasps, and mimic flies. Yellow jackets are most commonly mistaken for hornets, as they are social wasps with similar yellow and black striped pattern, but they are smaller than hornets and have more defined yellow and black bands, while hornets like bald-faced hornets are larger with white and black coloration or European hornets are brown and yellow and larger. Paper wasps can be mistaken for hornets, but they have longer, more slender bodies and long legs that dangle in flight and build open paper nests. Hoverflies and bee flies are harmless flies that mimic hornet and bee coloration to deter predators, but they have only two wings unlike hornets that have four wings and have large eyes and hover in place. Cicada killer wasps are large solitary wasps that look like hornets due to size but have different coloration and hunt cicadas. Bumblebees and carpenter bees can be mistaken for hornets by people unfamiliar with insects, but they are fuzzier and rounder. To distinguish hornets, look for larger size, about 1 to 1.5 inches, more robust body, and nests that are large, enclosed paper nests with single entrance, often in trees, shrubs, or under eaves, unlike yellow jacket nests that are often underground or in wall cavities.