Hornet hornets may often be black and white. There is also a related genus of Asian nocturnal vespines, "Provespa", which are referred to as "night wasps" or "night hornets", though they are not true hornets. Some other large wasps are sometimes referred to as hornets, most notably the bald-faced hornet ("Dolichovespula maculata") found in North America. It is set apart by its black and ivory coloration. The name "hornet" is used for this and related species primarily because of their habit of making aerial nests (similar to the true hornets) rather than subterranean nests. Another example is the Australian hornet ("Abispa
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