Baldfaced Hornet

Description:

They are best known for their large football-shaped paper nest, which they build in the spring for raising their young. These nests can sometimes reach 3 feet in height. Bald-faced hornets are protective of their nests and the females' defend them with repeated stings. They are more aggressive than yellowjackets and members of the Vespa genus, and it is not considered safe to approach the nest for observation purposes. The bald-faced hornet will aggressively attack with little provocation

Habitat:

The bald-faced hornet lives throughout North America, including southern Canada, the Rocky Mountains, the western coast of the United States, and most of the eastern US. They are most common in the southeastern United States. Seen at North Carolina Botanical Garden