Baldfaced Hornet -
Dolichovespula maculata |
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Bald-faced hornets
are common in both wooded and urban
areas. Queens start a new nest each
spring after the weather warms up in
late April or May. The queen finds loose
bark, and other paper strips to start a
small nest into which she places her
eggs. She adds saliva to the paper bark
and forms a smooth "carton." |
This bald-faced hornet nest is about 10 inches in diameter

![]() Baldfaced Hornet - Dolichovespula maculata Dolichovespula maculata is not a true hornet; hornets belong to the genus Vespa. Bald-faced hornets are actually wasps in the genus Vespula, many of which are commonly called yellowjackets. |

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Baldfaced hornets are black and
white, heavy-bodied wasps about 1/2 - 3/4 inch long.
They usually build exposed, grey nests in trees or
shrubs. Occasionally, they will build nests under
roof overhangs, in attics, crawlspaces and wall
voids, or under decks or porches. The nests are
constructed of a paper-like material formed from
chewed wood, and may exceed the size of a
basketball. These hornets are extremely quick-moving
and wary. Near the end of the summer, female larvae are fed greater amounts of food, which allows them to develop into queens, with complete reproductive systems. At the same time, the queen lays unfertilized eggs, which develop into male wasps. The males mate with the fertile females, and the colony breaks up with the onset of autumn. The fertilized females overwinter and the males die. |
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