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Old 12-04-2003, 04:20 AM
Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A.
 
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Default bee/wasp/hornet/?? Nest

Martin R. Soderstrom wrote:

Hi, all. I'm in Ontario, and we just came out of a late cold snap, so I was
looking around the house to see what winter had done. My wife noticed a
dark lump on the underside of the peak of our house. I went up to one of
the rooms on the second floor, hung out and used a flashlight to see some
sort of bee-like nest...I think.

It isn't football shaped,


Bald faced hornet nest.

as I thought all bees nests


Bees -- apiadae, not vespidae -- construct wax combs, in hollow trees or
similar cavities.

were, but it's flat
with definite honeycombs in it.


Paper wasp nest.

It looks about the size of a paperback
novel. Is this a nest that just isn't finished? I find it hard to believe
this thing has been up there all winter without us noticing it.

In any case, my main question is, how do I get rid of this thing? I haven't
seen any bees around, yet, so I'm thinking now is the time to act. Of
course, this weekend is suppose to be sunny and warm (11 celsius), so I'll
probably see them now.

Any help/advice appreciated.


It's last year's nest. You can knock it down if it's unsightly.

Paper wasps aren't aggressive. If the nest is active, its owners won't attack
you if you leave it alone -- you say you just _now_ noticed the thing? I've
actually knocked down nests _while_ they were active without reaction.

Since they're beneficial predators, you're better off not destroying it.

Yellow jackets are the only really aggressive species. You won't see
their nests, since they're built underground.