bald-faced hornet

If you see bald-faced hornets building a nest, use binoculars for a magnified view of nature's amazing papermakers at work.

Even a seasoned naturalist might be fooled by some of the best insect mimics, such as the flowerfly Spilomyiafusca, a near dead ringer for the large, aggressive bald-faced hornet.

Students will practice estimation and subtraction while learning facts about bald-faced hornets. Discuss the fact that the hornets' nests look like big gray balls and that the nests should never be touched or hit.

Bald-faced hornets construct large paper nests in trees and large shrubs at head height and above, so look in the tree canopies as you work in the garden.

I've been stung before by local black-and-white wasps called the bald-faced hornets. But yellow jackets are a brilliant black and yellow.

Bald-faced hornets -- which are wasps, and not true hornets -- are among the most misunderstood native insects.

Bald-faced hornets construct large paper nests in trees and large shrubs at head height and above so you should be aware as you are working in the garden.