Bald-faced hornet to laying eggs while the workers take over all other necessary housekeeping tasks. At some point, sometime before the midpoint of colony life, the colony will begin to invest energy in producing reproductives as well. This marks the transition into the reproductive stage. There is an extensive time period where both workers and reproductives are raised. Production of both castes limits the size of the work force. However, an early switching time is highly adaptive for social wasp colonies in limiting the risk of total loss. In a sampling of 50 colonies taken in Maryland in 1977, workers were produced
Decorah Bald Eagles and tail) develops when bald eagles are sexually mature, between 4 and 5 years of age. The species is placed in the genus "Haliaeetus" (sea eagles) which gets both its common and scientific names from the distinctive appearance of the adult's head. "Bald" in the English name is derived from the word "piebald", meaning "white headed". The Decorah Mom is younger than Dad, and is easily differentiated by her "eyeshadow" and darker feathers interspersed with the white ones on her head and tail. Dad has a fully white head and tail and is noticeably smaller than Mom; male bald eagles