The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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I watched, fascinated by the speed and skill, as the Bald-faced Hornets built the nest on the bottom of the electrical transformer in my front yard. The swarm had the construction finished in two weeks. I informed the electric company and they sent a repairman out. “Don’t mess with it” was his sage advice. I heeded his words.
I’ve been an active outdoors person all my life and have been stung or bitten by everything, smaller than a bat, that flies. Here are few important things I’ve learned.
The single point of interest is the difference between a bee and a wasp or hornet sting. Bees have a barbed stinger with a poison sac attached. The venom will pulse into you even when a bee is brushed off. The bees dies due to the bodily damage of the stinger’s separation from it’s body.
A hornet has a syringe-like stinger that can puncture you repeatedly, inject all their venom and live to brag about their attack (they also bite). Mean little cusses too.
Hornets and wasps will chase things down when aroused. They follow the “wake” of parted air a flailing, screaming man will leave. I speak from experience. I did learn that if you don’t run (overcoming the fear), duck to create a lower profile (creating no wake in an escape route), the hornets can’t locate you readily. Don’t hang around, they still hunt for you. More experience.
A new swarm of Bald faced Hornets started building a nest in the dying Red Oak tree in my front yard. This nest is 12 feet off the ground in a knot, under a large limb. Here is the beginning of the paper shell that will cover the entrance of the nest.
The next photo was taken a week later and shows the progress of the paper shell covering. In the video I added, you can see the chambers for the eggs. This nest will have the same activity within. I’ve noticed, the insects seem to leave the birds alone but give the squirrels some excitement.
I heard as a child, that when a hornets nest is built low to the ground (under ten feet) you could expect a harsh winter. I think the reference was to undisturbed woods. Typical woodland nests are 15 to 25 feet above the ground and usually out of reach of predators.
Hornets build in convenient places now regardless of climate influences. Humans have changed the world and they adapted.
I’ll leave my nest alone, and unless you are in mortal danger, I would encourage the same. Be safe first and smart always when confronted by wasps or hornets.
You can bet my nest will get plenty of family portraits. I’ll share the best photos with you.
Thank for stopping by.
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What’s up in nature in your area today?
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