Baldfaced Hornet

This atypically large black and white yellow jacket get its common name of bald-faced from its largely black color but mostly white face, and that of hornet because of its large size and aerial nest. Bald-faced hornets are found throughout the United States.

Recognition

Adult workers are about 5/8-3/4 inch long; queens about 3/4 inch. Color black with white pattern on most of face, has two angled stripes on thorax towards head, and on last three abdominal segments. Head with clypeus broadly truncated, slightly notched at apex. Hind wing without a jugal lobe. Pronotum in lateral view almost triangular, extending to tequla or nearly so. Middle tibia with two apical spurs. Builds paper-enclosed aerial nest, gray in color.

Habits

The over-wintering queen selects the nest site. This can vary from shrubs or vines at ground level to 66 feet or higher in trees. Nests also may be built on overhangs, utility poles, houses, sheds, or other structures. Nearly all nests are constructed in exposed locations. At maturity, the nests can be quite impressive with sizes of up to 14 inches in diameter and more than 24 inches in length.