The bald-faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata, is spread over a wide range covering most of the United States and Southern Canada. It is commonly found in forest or densely vegetated areas. Despite the name, it is a yellow jacket wasp without the yellow coloring. The white head and three distinct white bands around the end of the abdomen make the bald-faced hornet unique among most other wasps.
Beginning with a foundling stage, the first batch of workers are produced and nurtured by a fertile queen. In the ergonomic stage, the queen dedicates herself to laying eggs and the workers take on the responsibility for maintaining and enlarging the nest, tending the eggs, and vigorously protecting the colony against intruders. In the reproductive stage, the colony turns its full attention to the task of producing new queens and drones in preparation for the next seasonal generation.
Nest construction material consists of a papery substance produced by chewing and mixing wood fibers with saliva. The nests have a greyish-white appearance and are egg-shaped; about 350 millimeters in diameter and 550 millimeters in length. The interior contains layers of hexagonal combs, the brooding chambers for the eggs. Suspended from lower tree branches, the nest blends well with the surrounding foliage and is usually only noticed in late summer when the leaves begin changing color or are dropped from the tree.
