On 7/31/11, Martha Jordan wrote:
Does anyone know about what species of wasps or stinging flying insects that resemble such might be at the Lake Aldwell, Elwha River area west of Port Angeles. Both my friend and dog were stung today. They were not yellow jackets, darker in color and in the woods along the shoreline.

Likely bald-faced hornets, Dolichovespula maculata. A social wasp in the same group as yellowjackets, but bigger, and black with a white face. The nests are usually up in a tree or shrub, made of paper, and anywhere from golf ball size to basketball size, depending on the time of year and how good or bad a year they're having. They can be very defensive of the nest. Bigger nests and hotter weather increase their touchiness.

Good pictures and life cycle:
<http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bald-faced_hornet.htm>
--
Allyn Weaks allyn at tardigrade.net Seattle, WA Sunset zone 5
Pacific NW Native Wildlife Gardening: http://www.tardigrade.org/natives/
Not counting bacteria, one out of every four species isn't a parasite.