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Glite Dictionary
Vespula maculata

Vespula maculata

9.9
A large black and white wasp often called the bald-faced hornet that makes big paper nests
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Vespula maculata
  • Some people refer to the Vespula maculata as the bald-faced hornet due to its distinctive markings.

Examples

  • If you disturb a Vespula maculata nest, the hornets can become very aggressive.

  • A large Vespula maculata nest hung from the tree near the edge of the forest.

  • The Vespula maculata is often mistaken for a wasp.

  • Is that a Vespula maculata nest?

  • A large Vespula maculata nest hung from the tree near the edge of the forest.

  • If you disturb a Vespula maculata nest, the hornets can become very aggressive.

  • Some people refer to the Vespula maculata as the bald-faced hornet due to its distinctive markings.

Synonyms

bald-faced hornet
vsVespula maculata
  • US
8.2

A large black and white hornet in North America that builds paper nests in trees and defends them

uses the scientific name instead of the common name
white-faced hornet
vsVespula maculata
  • US
8.7

A large black and white wasp with a pale face that can sting people and becomes aggressive when threatened

focuses on species identity and large paper nests rather than facial color

Surface Forms

Vespula maculata singular
Vespula maculatas plural

Morphology

Vespula + maculata

The binomial form 'Vespula maculata' transparently signals a taxonomic name: knowing 'Vespula' (a genus of social wasps) lets a learner infer this is a kind of wasp/hornet. However 'maculata' is a Latin species epithet (not a standard English word and not defined here), so a B1 learner would not reliably derive the specific sense or common name; taxonomic composition is partially transparent but not fully predictable to learners.

Etymology

Vespula maculata comes from Latin: Vespula means 'little wasp' and maculata means 'spotted', which describes the hornet's white markings on a dark face and body. That's why the name refers to the hornet people often call the 'bald-faced hornet'.