# Bald-faced Hornet (*Dolichovespula maculata*) The Bald-faced Hornet is a black and white insect that builds big nests in trees. They are not true hornets but are actually wasps and can be very protective of their home! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 52 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Blackjacket Hornet, White-faced Hornet ![Bald-faced Hornet](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426425/objects/1265.jpg) ## Appearance The Bald-faced Hornet is a striking black and white social wasp, distinguished by its mostly black body with a white or ivory-colored face and three characteristic white stripes at the end of its abdomen. Unlike many yellowjackets, it has a smoother, less hairy appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Vespidae - **Genus:** Dolichovespula ## Interesting facts - A single Bald-faced Hornet colony can eat thousands of harmful garden pests in one summer! - Their large, grey paper nests are often high in trees, sometimes bigger than a basketball! - These hornets are actually a type of yellowjacket, just with different colors! - They get their 'paper' for nests by chewing tiny bits of wood and mixing it with their saliva. ## Special abilities - **Paper Architect:** Bald-faced Hornets can build large, elaborate paper nests from chewed wood fibers because this material provides strong, lightweight shelter for their colony. - **Venomous Defender:** Bald-faced Hornets have a potent sting and venom because it helps them defend their nest fiercely and subdue prey. - **Insect Hunter:** Bald-faced Hornets can actively hunt and capture various insects because this provides essential protein for their developing larvae. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-40 mm - **Size:** 12-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 12-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 400-1000 ## Diet & Feeding They hunt insects for their young and sip nectar or sap for their own energy. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat insects and spiders brought by adults; adult hornets consume nectar, sap, and fruit juice. - **Primary Foods:** flies, caterpillars, spiders, nectar, tree sap, fruit juice - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Captures for larval food. - **Hunts:** Eastern Tent Caterpillar (*Malacosoma americanum*) — Feeds larvae on caterpillars. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Kingbirds catch flying wasps. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Jays may raid nests. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate If you see a Bald-faced Hornet, it's best to stay away from their nest to avoid getting stung. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bald-faced Hornet? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Bald-faced Hornet's wingspan? 25-40 mm ### How big is Bald-faced Hornet? 12-20 mm ### How long does Bald-faced Hornet live? 12-365 days ### How fast can Bald-faced Hornet fly? 15 km/h ### What does Bald-faced Hornet eat? They hunt insects for their young and sip nectar or sap for their own energy. ### Where is Bald-faced Hornet usually found? Forests ### How does Bald-faced Hornet hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Brookside Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookside-reservation) — Ohio, US · Park - [Chandon Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chandon-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Chatham Arch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chatham-arch) — Indiana, US · Neighborhood - [Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drumlin-farm-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Bald-faced Hornet](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bald-faced-hornet) ## Watch - [Play video: Bald-faced Hornet](https://www.snappit.app/videos/bald-faced-hornet) - [YouTube](https://www.snappit.app/rejected_by_user) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Bald-faced Hornet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-faced-hornet)