two for the price of one

[piranha]

because they build their nests in the darndest places.

at the upper edge of the driver's door inside of the truck.

inside a tubular birdfeeder.

Comments

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

Do they get bigger than that? We have two common types of paper wasps, one makes nests like these, but larger diameter; the other kind makes stalactite-like constructions.

wasp nest size

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

yeah, they get considerably bigger; it depends on how many wasps are working together, and how old the nest is. i have some pictures of nests under the gable here; these nests are all 1st year at the time:

http://pics.livejournal.com/pleonastic/gallery/0002sds3

(warning for people averse to insects: these pictures contain wasps.)

Re: wasp nest size

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

Cool! Thanks.

[flarenut.livejournal.com]

So how long was that truck abandoned? I've watched the wasps working (the ones around here usually make somewhat bigger nests) and they're not terribly fast.

the speediness of wasps

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

it wasn't abandoned at all, but it wasn't driven every day; it might've stood unused for as much as 10-14 days. i suspect i would have noticed them working on it, though i didn't notice the nest for the longest time, so maybe not. i'm so used to having wasps around in the summer (and these are not particularly aggressive) that i've totally lost my *eeek* reaction.

we have lots of larger nests right under the gable. which reminds me that i want to take those down this year before they start moving back in. that way i'll be able to time their building better.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Wow, I love the stalk and attachment on the second one.

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

yeha, for some reason i really have a thing for the stalks. :)