Winter’s Ruins

Just some comb left on this one.

This one is still largely entact.

This one came down in the storm.

There was still some of the paper covering up in the tree.

A closer look at the paper comb.

Lost some larvae at the end of the season…. These nests are only used for one season and generally come to pieces during the winter. Only the all-ready mated queens live through the cold months, tucked away someplace dry. When they emerge in the spring, they’re ready to start a brand new nest and to lay eggs within it.

All three of these Bald-faced Hornet nests were within sight of each other in the park, but would have been hidden in the leaves during the summer. “Hornets” always sounds scary, but these Dolichovespula wasps go about their business unnoticed by most.