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Outdoor topics => The Outdoor Board => Topic started by: sprucebunny on August 16, 2016, 05:38:26 PM

Title: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: sprucebunny on August 16, 2016, 05:38:26 PM
This nest is in a covered and fairly enclosed box I built to hold batteries.
I've never seen a wasp nest that was this color and the shapes are kind of different.
Just wondering if anyone knows how to ID the type of wasp or can explain why it's not grey like most nests one sees ??? My best guess is that it's in an enclosed area and the gray one sees most often is because of weathering/oxidation.

Didn't seem to be inhabited but I didn't poke it  :D


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11412/JMwaspnestbox.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1471383359)
Title: Re: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: Autocar on August 16, 2016, 07:33:31 PM
I had yellow jackets build a nest like that in a pair of bib overhalls in my shop. Poke a hole in it then your get to see them  ;D.
Title: Re: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: sprucebunny on August 16, 2016, 08:01:15 PM
So yellow jackets don't always build nests in the ground ???

Think I'll wait 'til it's about -10F to poke it  :D
Title: Re: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: coxy on August 17, 2016, 07:13:33 AM
that is not a yellow jacket nest cant think of the name of the bees but they are nasty nasty bees they are not a native bee they got imported from what iv been told they are at least 2x bigger than a yellow jacket  spray the crap out of the nest with something
Title: Re: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: doctorb on August 17, 2016, 08:36:35 AM
Looks like German Yellowjacket nest.

Here's a description from Penn State:

German yellowjacket
Vespula germanica
Family: Vespidae

The German yellowjacket is a void nesting species found throughout most of the northeastern United States, into Canada and down the Pacific coast into California.  In addition to its native lands in Europe, it is found in Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia.  Although it is primarily a ground nesting species in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, in North America it usually is found nesting in voids within buildings.  It is very common in urban and suburban settings, but is also found in rural buildings.  Vespula germanica, an invasive (none native) species, will aggressively defend its nest and can sting repeatedly.  The stings are painful and for sensitive/allergic individuals can pose a serious health risk.


The pictures online depict a nest quite like yours, SB.  Kind of a big uncontrolled blob.  It must be empty, 'cause I don't see any bees in that picture!
Title: Re: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: bluthum on August 17, 2016, 09:48:09 AM
That does look like a European Hornet nest. I suppose same as German Hornet I don't have the scientific name in my head but I had tons of them here a couple years ago. You would also see them way out in the woods, I suspect they nested there in hollow trees. First I'd ever seen and I wouldn't be sad if it were the last. They are nearly 2" long and murder the native hornets which are themselves beneficial, if best avoided.

They are a destructive invasive species and will sting humans.  2 victims I know report being totally incapacitated for a few hours and horrific pain for  a couple days.

Some where I have some pics of one, maybe I'll try yo dig it up later.
Title: Re: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: doctorb on August 17, 2016, 11:56:13 AM
With further reading... only the queen survives the winter and starts a new nest in the spring.  If a nest is active, best to eradicate in early spring rather than have the thousands of wasps that can accumulate by the fall.  All of the worker wasps die.  It is rare for the nest to survive the winter (Australia), so the nest in the picture is probably last year's nest (or before). 
Title: Re: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: sprucebunny on August 18, 2016, 07:18:44 AM
Thanks for the replies.

Those wasps missed a good summer to live next to my garden. They could have got fat eating cabbage caterpillars  :D

I'm still going to wait until it's cold to clean it out. I didn't worry much about having the thing air/bug tight because I wanted a little ventilation but I will address that because I could have had a nasty surprise.

After reading about those wasps I'm afraid to go up in my attic !!!
Title: Re: ID wasp/bee nest ??
Post by: DelawhereJoe on August 19, 2016, 09:52:27 PM
Just get 6 cans of that foaming wasp spray, 2 friends and have at it. Those yellowjackets won't know what hit them.