Dolichovespula maculata
"White-faced Hornet"
Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City is the only place I've seen these beautiful hornets. Their large nests are found above
ground, usually in trees or bushes. They feed pre-chewed insects to their young and the adults feed on nectar. This one was
very dusty from the pollen but nothing really detracts from the striking black and white colors. Wasps and their kin are
fast becoming some of my favorite insects. © Carol Davis, 8-29-2008
These hornets look scary because of their plump physique but I followed this quickly-moving one around the flowers
for quite a while and it never got agitated. © Carol Davis, 8-29-2008
This worker Bald-faced Hornet must have been consuming this bench in Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City. I
passed it once and then when I came back about an hour later it was still walking around on the bench. Maybe
it was gathering pieces of wood for its nest. They are a gorgeous insect. © Carol Davis 8-29-2011
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