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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies (Vespidae) » Hornets and Yellowjackets (Vespinae) » Aerial Yellowjackets (Dolichovespula) » Bald-faced Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula maculata)
Photo#370590
Hornet - Dolichovespula maculata - female
Copyright © 2010 Phil Huntley-Franck

Hornet - Dolichovespula maculata - Female
Elkton, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
October 1, 2009
Size: approx 15mm
Guessing Dolichovespula maculata - Baldfaced Hornet - worker. I read that males have 13 antenna segments and females (including the queen) have 12, but I counted only 11 antenna segments, so who knows? Either way, it didn't seem to like me watching it eating a pear (Orchas pear), and it kept stopping to turn and watch me.

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Hornet - Dolichovespula maculata - female Hornet - Dolichovespula maculata - female Hornet - Dolichovespula maculata - female
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Contributed by Phil Huntley-Franck on 9 February, 2010 - 6:09pm
Last updated 9 February, 2010 - 9:23pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Thanks, Richard. They're interesting little creatures, though I've heard it's no fun being around a bunch of them. Last year at a family reunion, several people got stung just going to look at a nest.   :-P)
… Phil Huntley-Franck, 9 February, 2010 - 9:23pm login or register to post comments

Dolichovespula maculata - worker
In most Vespid Wasps, including Hornets and Yellowjackets, the pedicel or second antennal segment (just after the "elbow") is small and difficult to spot, hence your counting of only 11 segments.
This species is especially shy and wary of people, unless present in large numbers at a food source.
… Richard Vernier, 9 February, 2010 - 6:30pm login or register to post comments

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