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No confirmed photo of Carpenter bees
Carpenter bees
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
North Carolina Bugs and Insects That Sting or Bite
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
This page lists 7 insects: 4 from NC State Extension's NC State Extension publications: Red Imported Fire Ant in North Carolina; Saddleback Caterpillar; Non-Honey Bee Stinging Insects in North Carolina; NCDA&CS yellow-legged hornet release and 3 named in other official sources. 2 are nonnative.
Not every species: no complete official list of North Carolina insects exists, so this page covers the ones state and Extension sources name. How lists are built.
Which insects can hurt you
Official sources single out these insects in North Carolina, in their own words:
-
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Red imported fire ant
Painful stings. “A small number of people are highly allergic to fire ant stings and requires immediate medical attention.” NC State Extension
-
Photo: Katja Schulz · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Saddleback caterpillar
Stings. “Some people are very sensitive to such stings and may require professional medical treatment.” NC State Extension
All 7 insects
From A to Z. Do not handle them.
European hornet
Vespa crabro
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- Workers up to 1 inch (25 mm); queens slightly larger, up to about 1.3 inches.
- How to recognize it
- Large size plus reddish-brown color on the thorax and first abdominal segment
- C-shaped eyes; somewhat hairy body
- Flies at night and comes to porch lights
No confirmed photo of Paper wasps
Paper wasps
Polistes sp.
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Red imported fire ant
Solenopsis invicta
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Danger to people
- “A small number of people are highly allergic to fire ant stings and requires immediate medical attention.” NC State Extension
Saddleback caterpillar
Acharia stimulea
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Danger to people
- “Some people are very sensitive to such stings and may require professional medical treatment.” NC State Extension
- Size
- About 3/4 inch (up to 0.8 inch, 20 mm) when full grown; UGA says about 1 inch.
- How to recognize it
- Short, slug-like body; legs hidden underneath; glides like a slug
- Four large fleshy horns, a pair at each end, plus smaller knobs along the sides, all bearing stinging spines; LSU says it looks like it has two heads
No confirmed photo of Yellow-legged hornet
Yellow-legged hornet
Vespa velutina
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Where in North Carolina
- A follow-up survey found additional adults near the Union and Mecklenburg county line. N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
No confirmed photo of Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
When insects are active in North Carolina
Records of insects in North Carolina peak in May to August. They show when people record insects, not how many there are (about month bars).
- Carpenter bees typically emerge in April and May. NC State Extension
If you are bitten or stung
Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
How to report
NC Wildlife Helpline (NCWRC), Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.: 866-318-2401; email [email protected]. Aquatic invasive species: NCWRC Aquatic Nuisance Species Reporting Tool (https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/710337fbf02140599fd788ebfdd72744). Rattlesnake sightings: [email protected] or HerpMapper. Wildlife violations / alligator emergencies: 800-662-7137. Yellow-legged hornet: www.ncagr.gov/YLH (NCDA&CS). N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
What official sources say
Are there fire ants in North Carolina?
Yes. Imported fire ants are in at least 75 of NC's 100 counties (Extension, reviewed 2019). NC State Extension
“In North Carolina, imported fire ants can be found in at least 75 of our 100 counties”
About this list
The species list comes from NC State Extension publications: Red Imported Fire Ant in North Carolina; Saddleback Caterpillar; Non-Honey Bee Stinging Insects in North Carolina; NCDA&CS yellow-legged hornet release (NC State Extension (N.C. Cooperative Extension, NC State University), see each source). 3 more entries come from other official sources named on each card.
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in North Carolina.
Sources
- North Carolina's State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) page. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. 2025 SWAP approved by USFWS January 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
- Non-Honey Bee Stinging Insects in North Carolina. NC State Extension (N.C. Cooperative Extension, NC State University). Publication date: Feb. 5, 2015; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“In North Carolina, they typically emerge in April and May.”
- Red Imported Fire Ant in North Carolina. NC State Extension (N.C. Cooperative Extension, NC State University). Publication date: June 20, 2017; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“A small number of people are highly allergic to fire ant stings and requires immediate medical attention.”
“In North Carolina, imported fire ants can be found in at least 75 of our 100 counties”
- Saddleback Caterpillar. NC State Extension (N.C. Cooperative Extension, NC State University). Publication date: Jan. 27, 2017; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Some people are very sensitive to such stings and may require professional medical treatment.”
- NCDA&CS confirms first finding of yellow-legged hornet in the state, asks beekeepers to watch for predator hornet (press release). N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. July 27, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
- Have a Wildlife Problem? N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“The Wildlife Helpline is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call: 866-318-2401”
- GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.