That's Some Nest we Found in our Yard!

This is the biggest bees nest I've seen, and it is in a bush in our side yard.  It is a hornet's nest.

Here is a close up. I was using my smartphone camera and did not want to get too close.

The bees are not yellow-jackets, but bald-faced hornets.  They build paper nests at least three or more feet off of the ground, usually in trees, shrubs, on overhangs, utility poles, houses, sheds or other structures. They are found throughout the United States, Canada and north into Alaska.

Bald-faced hornets are aggressive and will attack anyone or anything that invades their space. This makes bald-faced hornet removal somewhat difficult. They have smooth stingers, so they can sting over and over again. Their stings also carry venom that makes the stings hurt, itch, or swell for about 24 hours. Humans are at the same risk of allergic reactions from a Bald-faced hornet stings as with other insect stings. 

From my husband's office window he shoots at the nest with his ...... BB Gun.  We watch from inside with the windows closed, of course, ...the bees go crazy flying around the nest

I called Orkin to see what they charge to remove the nest.  Well, for $281.00 they will kill the bees by spraying them, but not remove the nest.  My landscaper said to wait til evening and use the hornet spray. Or just wait.....

As winter approaches, the wasps die – except any just-fertilized queens. These hibernate underground, under logs or in hollow trees until spring. The nest itself is generally abandoned by winter, and will not be reused. When spring arrives, the young queens emerge and the cycle begins again.

Here's some interesting facts on bees:  There are about 20,000 different species of bees in the world. Bees live in colonies and there are three types of bees in each colony.  There is the queen bee, the worker bee and the drone. The worker bee and the queen bee are both female, but only the queen bee can reproduce. All drones are male. Worker bees clean the hive, collecting pollen and nectar to feed the colony and they take care of the offspring. The drone’s only job is to mate with the queen. The queen’s only job is to lay eggs.

The nest has to go.  We may go out this evening and spray the nest...then again perhaps I'll just let my husband handle the bees   :)

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