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Sort of. Hornets are a subsection of wasps with some unique characteristics (along with yellowjackets and similar types of insects). Hornets are generally rare in the United States, with European and Asian hornets the two notable examples.

Hornets tend to be significantly larger than wasps, often larger than one inch. They are also typically white or brown striped instead of yellow like many wasps. They tend to be one of the more aggressive types of wasps, which when combined with their size makes them a priority for homeowners.

Carpenter ants don’t eat wood. It’s a common misconception because many kinds of termites eat wood as well as live inside it. Carpenter ants, however, are omnivores and only chew into wood to create pathways and nests, discarding the chewed wood as frass which is a major indicator of a carpenter ant problem. They prefer to eat smaller insects, sweet things like spilled honey, and sources of protein like pet food.

Skunks spray as a defense mechanism to ward off predators. The active ingredient in their sulfurous, oily musk is n-butyl mercaptan, which evaporates into a powerful and smelly gas. Once the spray hits the skunk’s target, the stench can linger for days, and water and common cleaning kits aren’t enough to wash it away.

If you happen upon a skunk in your yard, try to back away slowly to reduce the chance of them aiming at you. Encouragingly, they don’t use their weapon casually, as it can take up to 10 days for their life-saving weaponry to refill. Paw stamping, hissing, lifting their tail, and arching their back are early signs they feel trapped or under threat and that it’s time to make a careful retreat.

Roaches won’t sting your pets and don’t have venom like spiders do , but they present other dangers. Cockroaches are notorious carriers of diseases like salmonella and parasites like tapeworms. Because they’re so dirty, their bites (otherwise harmless) can also get infected. You don’t want your pets chasing and trying to eat cockroaches, or sleeping near a roach infestation.