Comments for
Black with white markings bee-like insect (Baldfaced hornet)

Click here to add your own comments

BALDFACED HORNET
by: Moni

Jackie
Were you stung or bit?
Don't think they bite, it was probably a sting. They only chew on paper type products to make the nest and this time of year they are more apt to sting.
They do bite
by: Jackie

Just got bit, by one, last night! I must have some how disturbed it. I wasn't impressed. Thanks for posting the info...I wasn't sure if it was a bee or a wasp. After it bit me, it parked itself on the screen door...at the time we didn't know what it was, and my husband didn't want it stinging anyone else, so he killed it.
Baldfaced hornet
by: Moni

BlueFire
The sap on the truck is probably coming from scale insects on the maple tree....and yes the hornets may be attracted to the sweet sap called "honey dew". There are a lot of cottony maple scale on trees this year in our area. You did not say where you are from.
Perhaps you could park further away from the tree canopy for now...until we have a frost and the scale are gone. The hornets will not be as active on cool mornings or evenings.
What!
by: BlueFire

The last couple of days these guys have been flying all over my truck in the morning. I park under a maple tree which has had a lot of sap this year so I suppose they're attracted to the sap landing on my truck. It's become quite the hassle in the morning trying to make sure they don't fly in when getting my toddler set in the car. =/
Baldfaced Hornet
by: Moni

Den
Thank you for letting it build its nest and finish this life cycle!
Insects are fun to watch!
Thanks for sharing!
Bald Face Hornet in Upstate SC
by: Den

Thank for the writer for identifying this Hornet. We have watched the nest grow over the spring and have been amazed how docile these insects have been. The nest is wedged under the garage door sill and it has been a bit inconvenient, but it's been worthwhile watching the nest develop. We continually pass by the nest and they simply fly by without any aggression. I am relieved however to learn they only use the nest once as we can now plan on using the garage again next year.
Baldfaced Hornet
by: Moni

Shawna
Just because you don't like bugs you do not have to kill them. They have a place in this world just like every living creature and they do their part. Please be more considerate and do not kill it next time.
If it is in the house catch it in a cup and put it outside....that is where it wants to be.
You do have a choice!
What a wierd bee...!
by: Shawna Holzworth

I just saw one of these hornets on one of my windows in my house. i took some great pictures of it too. What an interesting insect! funny thing is is that I'm afraid of bugs so I had to have my dad kill it for me... Lol very hard to find on the internet if you don't know what the heck it is. I have never seen anything like it before in my life and I hope that I never will again
Baldfaced hornet
by: Moni

Jocelyn
This wasp is the baldfaced hornet. They make the large basketball sized paper nests seen hanging from tree limbs in the fall after the leaves have fallen. These nests are only used one time. A fertilized queen overwinters and starts a paper enclosed nest in the Spring. As the colony grows, multiple tiers are added, consisting of hexagonal cells - all is made from wood fibers mixed with saliva. The opening at the bottom allows the hornet workers to fly in and out.
The workers feed the larva pre-chewed food. Hornets are beneficial predators that feed on other insects, particularly filth flies and blow flies. The adults are found on flowers where they drink nectar.
The nest population is from 100 to 400 hornets by the end of the summer. In the fall, males and new queens are produced. These leave the nest, mate and the fertilized queens hibernate. The remainder of the workers, the old queen and the males die of old age or freezing temperatures.
These are not aggressive wasps. Not sure why that one was just sitting. Perhaps were workers enjoying the sun or looking for more insects to catch. It might have been a pair that you saw and the one in the photo is the queen that will be out looking for a place to overwinter...tho August does seem a bit early for that.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Insect Identification

Return to Black with white markings bee-like insect (Baldfaced hornet)




All of Doug's Ebooks Can Be Found Here





Subscribe


Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner



Subscribe in a reader




Subscribe in a reader

E-Mail Updates


Enter Email Address Here:

Delivered by FeedBurner



Videos

Watch Videos


Loading...

.