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bald-faced hornet |
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Dolichovespula maculata |
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| Taxonomy | Order: |
Hymenoptera |
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Suborder: |
Apocrita (wasps, ants and bees) |
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No Rank: |
Aculeata |
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Superfamily: |
Vespoidea |
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Family: |
Vespidae (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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| 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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| Similar Species |
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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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| Life Cycle |
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| Behavior |
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| Range |  |
Sources: 7. |
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| Sightings |
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| Comments | Though called a hornet this is actually a yellowjacket. |
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| Images | |||||||
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| Synonyms | Vespula maculata |
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| Common Names |
baldfaced hornet bald-faced hornet |
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