Bald-faced hornet varies depending on an individual's life cycle stage and geographic location. Adult hornets are carnivorous, and will prey upon several insect types. They have been observed consuming meat, spiders, fruit and insects. Adults will also drink flower nectar which they feed to their larvae. Female Bee Moths (Aphomia sociella) have been known to lay their eggs in Bald-faced hornet nests. The hatched larvae will then proceed to feed on the eggs, larvae, and pupae left unprotected by the wasp, sometimes destroying large parts of the nest as they tunnel throughout looking for food. Each spring, queens that were born and
Bald-faced hornet colonies have been observed in central Pennsylvania as late as mid-October. The colony is founded by a single overwintered, inseminated queen. She rears the first generation of workers on her own until they are functional. Colonies pass through the foundation over an average period of 23–24 days. After the queen lays her eggs, it takes 6 days for them to hatch. They grow as larvae for eight days. It takes them an additional 9–10 days to mature into adult workers. During the ergonomic stage, the colony's activities are concerned with cell building and worker production. The queen devotes herself entirely