Insect and Spider Identification  
 
 
  HOME
 · Alderfly/Dobsonfly
 · Bees, Ants, Wasps
 · Beetles
 · Bristletails
 · Butterflies, Moths
 · Centipedes
 · Cicada & Similar
 · Cockroaches
 · Dragonfly/Damselfly
 · Earwigs
 · Flies
 · Grasshopper/Crickets
 · Mayflies
 · Mite or Tick
 · Scorpion and Like
 · Snakeflies
 · SPIDERS
 · True Bugs
 · Walkingsticks
 · View ALL
  ABOUT BUGS
 · Identifying Insects
 · Insect Anatomy
 · Insect Mouth Parts
  SCIENTIFIC
 · Dichotomous Keys
 · Taxonomic Orders
 · Insect Orders
 · Scientific Names
 · Metamorphosis
 · Process of Molting
  MISCELLANEOUS
  · Bees and Wasps
  · Beneficial Insects
  · Field Guides
  · Color the Bugs
  · Spider Identification

Insect Identification > Description of the Bald-Faced Hornet
 

Details of the Bald-Faced Hornet

CATEGORY:
Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar

COMMON NAME:
"Bald-Faced Hornet"

SCIENTIFIC NAME:
(Dolichovespula maculata)

TAXONOMY:
(View Orders)
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
   Class:Insecta
    Order: Hymenoptera
     Family: Vespidae
      Genus: Dolichovespula
       Species: maculata


CHARACTERISTICS: Blad-faced Hornets are related to yellow jackets but are not "true" hornets themselves. This species features a rather stout body and are colored in white and black from head, thorax and abdomen. The abdomen is finished off by a band of white. Males differ somewhat in having a white band on the first abdominal segment. Workers measure between 12 and 15mm while the queen is substantially larger at 18 to 20mm.

Bald-Faced Hornets are extremely aggressive when disturbed and WILL STING REPEATEDLY. Their hives can appear anywhere one can imagine. Hives themselves are a gray shapely mass with an opening at the bottom.


ADULT SIZE (Length, not including legs):
12mm to 20mm (0.47in to 0.79in) (Compare Size)

IDENTIFYING COLORS: black, white

North American Reach
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
 
Compare Bug Size Insect Dichotomous Key Insect Anatomy
 
 
BugFinder - Search Insects by Color and State
Select dominant color, secondary color and state.
Dominant Color:
Secondary Color:
Your State:

Insect Field Guides


Picture of Bald-Faced Hornet
Courtesy of www.mdc.mo.gov


More Pictures of the Bald-Faced Hornet:
Pic of the Bald-Faced Hornet Image of the Bald-Faced Hornet
Photo of the Bald-Faced Hornet
Picture of the Bald-Faced Hornet
Image of the Bald-Faced Hornet
Picture of the Bald-Faced Hornet
Images @InsectIdentification.org • Hover over each image to view submission credit

     

 

©2005-2010 InsectIdentification.org • All Rights Reserved • DisclaimerPrivacy Policy
Site Design by Runaway Studios
Business Consulting by KyleWilliams.com

Comments/Suggestions: InsectIdentification at gmail dot com

 

 

 

 

eXTReMe Tracker