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Dolichovespula maculata
Despite the name, this wasp is not a true "hornet." It is a large, black-and-white yellowjacket that nests above ground.
Found inside a small nest attached to an outbuilding in a dry forest of mixed conifers and deciduous trees (mostly pine and Gambel's Oak).
Bald-faced Hornets kill flies to feed to the larvae in the nest. They never harass people at picnics and barbecues. Unless a nest is violently disturbed, the wasps are peaceful.
Spotted on May 17, 2012
Submitted on Jan 4, 2013
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