bald-faced hornet |
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Dolichovespula maculata |
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| Order | Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies) |
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| Suborder | Apocrita (Ants, Bees, and Wasps) |
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| Superfamily | Vespoidea |
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| Family | Vespidae (Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps) |
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| Subfamily | Vespinae (Hornets and Yellowjackets) |
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| Status |
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| Flight/Season | Spring to late fall |
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| Habitat | Forest edges |
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| Size |
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| Larval Food | Pre-chewed insects |
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| Adult Food | Flower nectar, fruit, and may eat other insects |
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| Identification | Black with white markings on the head, the thorax, the last few segments of the abdomen, and first antennal segment. Wings smokey. The nest is made of a gray-tan wood pulp and is in the shape of an inverted tear drop with an opening near the bottom. It is often found hanging high in a tree, but may be in a bush or other protected place. |
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| Life Cycle |
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| Similar Species |
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| Range |
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| Sightings | |||||||
| Comments | Though called a hornet this is actually a yellowjacket. |
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| Images | Click on an image for a larger view. | ||||||
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