How Long To Build A Hornets Nest

Hornets can be very dangerous if yous human action like Elmer Fudd and try to knock their nest down with a stick. Only otherwise, they are harmless.

The somewhat-similar-looking nests of bald-faced hornets and European hornets max out at around 500 to 600 occupants in the fall, with each nest tending to be a little larger than a football. (Courtesy listener) — The somewhat-similar-looking nests of baldfaced hornets and European hornets max out at around 500 to 600 occupants in the fall, with each nest tending to be a little larger than a football. (Courtesy listener)

Unlike highly aggressive yellowjackets that nest in the ground, hornets that build their nests high up on homes or in trees are no danger to people. (Courtesy listener) — Unlike highly ambitious yellowjackets that nest in the basis, hornets that build their nests high upwards on homes or in trees are no danger to people. (Courtesy listener)

What'southward the fizz

Tom, "a retired math teacher in Bethesda," writes: "We have had a nest being constructed on the eaves of our house since May.

"The bugs in the nest look like bees, but I searched around the internet and have ended that they might be European hornets or bald faced hornets. I'm not sure which. Their markings — yellow facial and fanny marks — don't quite friction match the images on the Net."

Yes Tom, y'all indeed take the proverbial hornets nest attached to your dwelling house. Hornets are in the wasp family unit and are not bees of any kind. They do accept stingers merely take no interest in using them on you. And as you note — and your photos reveal — the nest is manner up high on your business firm, where you won't come into contact with them. Then unless you lot practice something really clever, like endeavour and remove them, they will non harm you.

More often than not harmless

Tom in Bethesda, host to a hornets nest, continues: "The nest is a distinctive papery gray, and the hornets have been building information technology for 2 months, adding a layer well-nigh every ii days. Information technology is now about vii inches in diameter with a nasty looking spout-similar opening at the lesser. I do gardening chores every solar day, sometimes correct underneath them, but they don't seem to mind. No stinging yet. Are they unsafe?"

Hornets tin can be very dangerous if you act like Elmer Fudd and try to knock their nest down with a stick, Tom. But otherwise, they are harmless. Unlike highly ambitious yellowjackets that nest in the ground, hornets that build their nests high upwards on homes or in trees are no danger to people.

Unless, of course, those people deed like they're in a Warner Bros. cartoon.

Proper name that hornet

Hornet-hosting Tom in Bethesda continues: "How big will the nest become?"

The somewhat-similar looking nests of baldfaced hornets and European hornets max out at effectually 500 to 600 occupants in the fall, with each nest disposed to be a little larger than a football. Oh — and these creatures are very easy to tell apart.

The so-called "baldfaced" hornet is black and white in color with a really spooky-looking, most-skull-like confront, while the European hornet is yellowish in color and huge, one of the biggest such creatures on the planet. Your mention of the color yellow leads us to believe that you have that giant European immigrant.

And relax: Although the cyberspace contains dire warnings about both creatures — specially the scary-looking baldfaced hornet — I've had both species nest on my home and in nearby copse many times without ever being stung.

I detect paper wasps and mud daubers — which tend to build their smaller nests in places humans use a lot (like behind my shutters and in my porch light fixtures) — to exist much more aggressive.

Do hornets nestle in nectar?

Hornet-housing Tom in Bethesda continues: "… Are they pollinators or just breeding insects? Nosotros have excellent blossom on the entire garden this year!"

Although they aren't widely known for it, all wasps and hornets — even those nasty and dangerous yellowjackets — perform some pollination, as practice mosquitoes! In fact, male mosquitoes get all of their nutrition from pollen and nectar, and even the blood-sucking females like the sugar blitz they get from visiting flowers between blood meals.

Same with wasps and hornets: Although they are primarily meat-eaters, they also savor a little trip to the candy store now so, and information technology would not be surprising if having a hornets nest about the garden increased the number and vitality of your blooms.

More than important: They'll protect your tomatoes

Tom in Bethesda concludes: "We don't want to kill them if they are beneficial, merely they haven't 'introduced themselves' one way or the other. We're leaving on vacation in July and would hate to have to chop through a car-sized hornets nest to get dorsum within to rescue our cats when we return."

They are incredibly beneficial, Tom — voracious predators of many garden pests, specially subversive caterpillars like the cabbage worm, broccoli worm and tomato plant hornworm. (To quote one of my favorite old agricultural books: "The farmer who destroys the hornets nest will harvest no cabbage that season.") They are so beneficial, in fact, that information technology was once against the police to harm European hornets.

And don't worry about getting back into the business firm. The nest will superlative out in size at a little larger than a football, and the cats (and cabbages) will be just fine.

Mike McGrath was Editor-in-Chief of ORGANIC GARDENING mag from 1990 through 1997. He has been the host of the nationally syndicated Public Radio show "You lot Bet Your Garden" since 1998 and Garden Editor for WTOP since 1999. Transport him your garden or pest control questions at MikeMcG@PTD.net.