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BugGuide Gathering
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July 10-12, 2009
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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Ants, Stinging Wasps, and Hornets (Vespoidea) » Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps (Vespidae) » Hornets and Yellowjackets (Vespinae) » Dolichovespula » Baldfaced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
Photo#361239
Badland wasp/hornet nest - closeup - Dolichovespula maculata
Copyright © 2008 James N Broadbent

Badland wasp/hornet nest - closeup - Dolichovespula maculata
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada
August 2, 2008
I am sorry for the fuzzy shot. I was on a tour and took a hurried handheld shot. It does show basically what type of wasp/hornet it was but the detail is poor. My new year resolution is to concentrate more on making better pictures :)

My guess here is that this is a Bald-faced Hornet. I base this guess on the lack of white makings on the middle of its body.

*** Correction *** this is a sandstone cliff in Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

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Badland wasp/hornet nest - closeup - Dolichovespula maculata Badland wasp/hornet nest - Dolichovespula maculata
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Contributed by James N Broadbent on 28 December, 2009 - 12:34pm
Last updated 28 December, 2009 - 6:30pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Sean McCann, 28 December, 2009 - 6:30pm login or register to post comments

Detail of the photo does not matter a whole lot in this case
This is a very interesting find and it is good that you were able to document it. It is without a doubt D. maculata, the bald faced hornet like you said. But the nesting situation is very unusual. The nest appears to be attached either to bare soil or to a root in the soil, both of which are unusual for Dolichovespula. Underground nests of D. arenaria have been documented but it is even more unusual in maculata. And the wasps are possibly excavating around the nest?
… Vespula vulgaris, 28 December, 2009 - 1:20pm login or register to post comments

 
I am sorry for the confusing
I am sorry for the confusing start....this is a sandstone cliff, not soil as I earlier implied. There would be no anchoring root involved here and though the sandstone is friable I am not sure the hornet would be digging around in it. I describe my location better in the comments of the other picture.

Thank you for the confirmation.
… James N Broadbent, 28 December, 2009 - 2:00pm login or register to post comments

Bald-faced Hornet, Dolichovespula maculata
Looks like to me too, but best to wait for the wasp experts.
… Andrew Williams, 28 December, 2009 - 12:44pm login or register to post comments

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