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Photo#10380
Wasp - Dolichovespula maculata

Wasp - Dolichovespula maculata
District of Columbia, USA
September 20, 2004
I realize that this is a bad angle to ID from, but any possibilities?

Bald-faced "hornet"
This is a male bald-faced "hornet," Dolichovespula maculata. The genus is a yellow jacket genus (true hornets are Vespa sp.), but D. maculata is a large species, and colored unlike other yellow jackets. They are non-aggressive, and superb biological controls of flies.

 
Seen Plenty of these!
I even got face to face with one! It seemed fascinated with just looking at me! And no it didn't sting me.

 
Bald-faced Hornet
Of course. I should have seen that, I have many images from other angles of that species. Thanks.

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