Homesteading

[maryschurr]

I have no idea what group this post should be in. But, I just found a large, active hornet’s nest on a lower limb of a tree very close to my home. And, across from 2 of my fig trees that are full of fruit, but not yet ripe. Is this the reason for the hornet’s nest? This is the first time I have found hornet’s here.
I was going to call a pest company to remove it, but I’m worried they will wish to spray the nest. I know hornet’s have a pretty nasty sting and I have been chased down by yellow jackets in the woods after stepping in their nest and oh my, that was pretty bad!!!

Anyone have any thoughts? I know people will move beehives, but I don’t know anyone that might move a hornet’s nest.

Discussion

[abram]

if you knock t out of the tree they will move their nest, that said it can be a dangerous thing to do if you are not familiar…definately a thing to do pre dawn when it’s coldest and they are least active.

[Eliza]

I had a paper wasp next above my

House and it was nice to know they only do it for one year – i decided to imagine that they were protecting the property! We had no issues…I suppose maybe you’re attracting them with all of that good vibrational work your doing with the vesica institute 🙂

[maryschurr]

@ew and @abramara , thank you! Yes, it would have to been very early morning hours, but even then it has probably been too warm here in Charlotte, NC. They try to say we are in the upper 90s, but the hourly actually shows it is not quite that hot, but still pretty warm. Very dry, no rain for many weeks to speak of.

Too funny about the vibes, Eliza! Maybe, I should use the pendulum and see what the hive wants me to do, lol.

I welcome anyone else’s thoughts, though.

[Eliza]

Yes, beautiful @maryschurr

@abramara had very useful advice! I’d not known that early morning is ideal and one could simply knock it down (definitely the masculine / level-headed action-oriented approach) whereas I had more of the feminine / witchy inaction approach.

Now i get all of this free, cool marbled wasp nest paper anyone’s

Paper mache project – happy to send 😉

It was like a giant diamond hanging over the entrance of the house- And glowed in the sunlight. At the time I’d been feeling the need for protection so as I’d hired movers and they were walking underneath it I warned them a don’t break anything or or else my protection bees will be angry!

Do you see a lot of ants on your fig tree carrying scale? That creates honeydew and then the ants drink the nectar from the tree…

[abram]

i guess i had assumed bald face hornets…most of the other types are not usually very territorially aggressive and one can usually ignore them and go about yer business..

[Kev]

That’s good info., that some are less aggressive or not aggressive at all if you ignore them.. I def don’t know much about hornets and wouldn’t off-hand be able to ID them.. Do you know if it’s universal that knocking the nest out of the tree will compel them to rebuild elsewhere?.. Obviously, yes, as they won’t nest on the ground.. So I wonder if they could be attracted to a new location somehow, or lured elsewhere, far away, or if that’s a non-starter..

[maryschurr]

@ew & @abramara Thank you! I just looked back at my reply, my goodness… I meant to say I welcome anyone else’s thoughts, too. Jeez, I was rushing to get to my Azure order today and my brain was certainly not in gear nor my manners!
Eliza, I will take a look at the fig tree, I have seen those on our other one when they are ripe. We have to grab the figs a bit early and let them fully ripen on a plate inside due to the ants. Can’t blame them…the figs are delicious! Poor you and your movers! I bet they were the fastest movers ever!!! You are correct, it is beautiful and a work of art. Nature is just amazing.

I did hear from someone who said that if you find them or yellow jackets in a nest in the ground, you can toss a granola bar, marshmallow, or something sweet into the hole. If you have raccoons (or bears or armadillos) they will go for the sweets and eat the insects as well. Since you can’t move one in the ground, that sounds much more appealing than any sort of sprays. The things you learn!

[Kelly]

I absolutely love the luring a bear/ raccoon with sweets idea! How neat is that?!?

[Kev]

Such a great idea indeed!.. question would be what critters will eat stinging insects — raccoons, possums, hedgehogs, skunks, etc.??

[maryschurr]

@Kev @theblossomingsquash , Yes I think I remember skunks being another one that likes the sweet treats and then will go for the hornets. Crazy, isn’t it!

Our nest was removed. It took him over an hour that evening, he had to “smoke” them at least twice and I could see him having to back away several times. He did earn his money! There have been a few strays in the area where the base of the nest is still on the limb. He said there would be, but without the queen they will not make it or be able to rebuild. So glad it is gone, with these storms if it fell to the ground…that would not be good!

[Kev]

Badgers too I bet, especially as the African honey badger lives on such insects, and so that would be an indicator.. I had an encounter with a badger in a thick overgrown wild wooded area in San Francisco city years ago.. That badger was ready to tear me to shreds, but I got away.. 😅

[Eliza]

It was this video that made me ask the question re ants..side note (as I’ve looked into this for you Beautiful Mary) did you know that toasting fig leaves in your oven makes a treat that tastes like coconuts?

Ok…back to my research…

Incidentally – at the Lunenburg house (the paper wasps were at the library property) we’ve got some sorts of large segmented non-bees (yellow jacket) that have moved into the wall / connection with the door (the only door) to the backyard…could be worse than a nest in the yard – but not as bad as stepping on an in ground nest – terrifying!)

I’m not sure if I told you this but the famous story about jed is that he was a fat, calm baby – so calm in fact that his mom sat him down and forgot to check on him in the yard and he’d been sitting on a next. As all of the bees/hornets? came back they couldn’t get into the nest and his whole face and arms and legs were covered. Not a sting just big round brown eyes blinking and covered head to toe in these creatures.

https://youtu.be/Bs93dtwgAZw?si=RmXYE2QjGKwEEwPq

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  Eliza.

[maryschurr]

Oh my!!! I can’t get over the Jed story! Wow! Tells you something about creatures, doesn’t it? They knew and didn’t sting him. I guess??
Didn’t know about fig leaves, but will have to give that a try. As to your door…yes that is a much bigger problem. Hmm, I’ll let you know what I figure out. Was waiting until after the week of the 4th to see if I can pay a beekeeper to come and move them.🙏✌

[Kev]

Just this morning I had a wasp scouting my balcony garden.. Or, put another way, he was casing the joint.. Lol.. See, my balcony has a solid parapet wall along the edge, and so all of my containers are up on tables 3′ tall that I built.. So the wasp was buzzing about underneath, on the underside of the plywood sitting on the stands, like he was looking for a good dark place for his crew to start building a nest.. Grrrrr.. I told him, nuh uh, not here, you’re not welcome.. Lol.. Now I gotta keep my eyes peeled for wasp activity under my tables..

Question is — why here, what do they want, why is this a desirable place, what function do they serve??.. And how can I deter them at the get-go so they decide not such a good place afterall??..

But also, I should go up underneath where I saw him and take a look.. The nest may be started and I’ve just never noticed the activity before.. don’t think so though.. 🍕

[Kev]

Roasted fig leaves?!.. Now *that* sounds amaaazing.. Hmmm, there’s a fig tree down the block I know of (they’re pretty common here actually).. It hangs out over the sidewalk.. Methinks the bandit needs to snag a few leaves.. 🤠

[maryschurr]

Hornet Nest Update!!!! My new friend/beekeeper, Justin was just here to case the joint! He will be back tonight after sundown to take the nest of Hornets to their new home in woods far from “my home”. I looked up the local beekeeper’s association, found a list of guys who would remove a bee swarm for people and figured if I pay them, they would remove a hornet’s nest. After all, they have the dress code all worked our, right? And, Justin and I agreed on a price, but we’ve had to reschedule a few times….but hopefully tonight the weather cooperates! I am thrilled with my idea working out. No spraying, happy hornets, and Justin makes some $$$. Happy Ending for all!!!

[Kev]

Excellent..

[maryschurr]

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