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Bald-faced Hornet

Dolichovespula maculata

Bee or wasp · family Vespidae · order Hymenoptera

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Bald-faced Hornet
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
6 states[3]

The Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is an insect in the family Vespidae[4]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Bald-faced Hornet a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. The US Fish and Wildlife Service data did not list it as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act when checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe shows SNR for each of the 6 states where it lists the species[5].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)

Where Bald-faced Hornet lives

NatureServe lists the Bald-faced Hornet as native in 6 US states and territories: Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina, Vermont and Wyoming[3]. That list shows where NatureServe records the species. It is not a promise that you will see one there[3]. On GBIF, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania have the most observation records[6]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many animals live there[6].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: native, state rank SNRVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: native, state rank SNRIDMontana: native, state rank SNRMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank SNRWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank SNRSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[5].
Show state ranks (6 states)
StateRankMeaning
IdahoSNRNot Ranked
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MontanaSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaSNRNot Ranked
VermontSNRNot Ranked
WyomingSNRNot Ranked

When to look for it

GBIF records of the Bald-faced Hornet in the United States are highest in July, August and September[7]. Records are low from December to March[7]. These counts show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[7].

January: 358 recordsJanFebruary: 212 recordsFebMarch: 493 recordsMarApril: 1,028 recordsAprMay: 1,706 recordsMayJune: 2,083 recordsJunJuly: 4,535 recordsJulAugust: 9,731 recordsAugSeptember: 9,687 recordsSepOctober: 4,272 recordsOctNovember: 1,196 recordsNovDecember: 525 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[7].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January358
February212
March493
April1,028
May1,706
June2,083
July4,535
August9,731
September9,687
October4,272
November1,196
December525

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania[6]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Bald-faced Hornet endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Bald-faced Hornet live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina, Vermont and Wyoming[3]. GBIF has the most observation records from New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, but those counts follow observer effort[6].
What other names does the Bald-faced Hornet have?
NatureServe also lists the name White-faced Hornet[8].
When are Bald-faced Hornets reported most?
GBIF records peak in July, August and September[7]. This shows when people report them, not how many there are[7].

Facts and sources

  1. Bald-faced Hornet is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Bald-faced Hornet: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Bald-faced Hornet as native in 6 US states and territories: Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina, Vermont, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is a bee or wasp in the family Vespidae, order Hymenoptera. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe state ranks for Bald-faced Hornet (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  6. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Bald-faced Hornet: New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  7. GBIF observation records of Bald-faced Hornet in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  8. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Bald-faced Hornet: White-faced Hornet. NatureServe Explorer

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.