The Guy Who Collected the Hornet's Nest

January 14, 2011 12:58 AM

Wasps' nests: nuisance, a source of tasty treats, or just a tongue twister? If you are a Social Wasp Enthusiast check out the Collection of Monster Nests (video tour). [via]
posted by benzenedream (20 comments total)

Aaaaaagh! Nasty bastards! Had 'em living in my house when I was a kid. One morning, while I was sleeping, a wasp was crawling around on my lips. I thought it was a fly and swatted it. Horrible way to wake up! Nasty bastards.
posted by frodisaur at 1:22 AM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yeah. I have to deal with these fuckers every summer. They are flippin' everywhere. I have launched my own personal war against wasps and my pseudo-hippy, wanna-be organic jackass of a neighbor always gives me shit for killing them off. To boot, she plants a million frickin' flowers all around the house (duplex) and then complains when I am out there killing wasps They live under the damn stairs damn it, I can't walk outside without being harassed by 'em. Needless to say, not a big wasp fan, and their nests look downright terrifying.
posted by IvoShandor at 1:31 AM on January 14, 2011

I mean that with all possible neighborly love though.
posted by IvoShandor at 1:32 AM on January 14, 2011

That video tour sounds like it's being given by Ben Stein, age 13.
posted by bicyclefish at 1:33 AM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

I like wasps.

By the way, the wasp nest collector, unless I'm getting my links confused, is also Wuffy T. Wolf, which is fantastico. A pony-tailed furry wasp enthusiast.
posted by pracowity at 1:54 AM on January 14, 2011 [2 favorites]

With the warmer winters, hornet colonies haven't been dying back as much. Which leads to things like this car full of nest.

I like the kind of wasps that pollinate (since I like figs), but other than that kill away.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:48 AM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Wasps also eat caterpillars and other things that would otherwise munch our crops, and wasps in turn are good food for birds and beasts. Badgers love a juicy wasp nest. If the wasps aren't bothering you, don't bother them.
posted by pracowity at 3:19 AM on January 14, 2011

Re the Monster Nests link: That dude needs a tripod.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:31 AM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

IvoShandor: "Yeah. I have to deal with these fuckers every summer. They are flippin' everywhere. I have launched my own personal war against wasps and my pseudo-hippy, wanna-be organic jackass of a neighbor always gives me shit for killing them off... I can't walk outside without being harassed by 'em. Needless to say, not a big wasp fan, and their nests look downright terrifying."

Look, I've been to places like Kennebunkport and I've seen the fuckin' crazy mansions they live in. While I won't dispute that these people are rather annoying, your reaction seems pretty over the top, not to mention illegal.
posted by gman at 4:36 AM on January 14, 2011 [5 favorites]

(But it is true that they eat caterpillars. Daddy like them killed but raw. W likes them deep fried. The twins toss back fistfuls of wriggling larvae.)
posted by pracowity at 4:45 AM on January 14, 2011 [2 favorites]

If the wasps aren't bothering you, don't bother them.

i was simply sitting in the lobby of my workplace reading a newspaper while on break. then a wasp decided to fly up my pants leg. did you know that they don't lose their stingers so one wasp can sting you multiple times? i kinda knew that but found out what it really meant that day.

i still tend to leave them alone, but not always. i had a very satisfying experience using my shopvac to remove a hornets from a nest this summer, which i kind of described in my blog.
posted by lester at 5:36 AM on January 14, 2011

I like the pics of the nests, but find the photographer a bit distracting. But doing so does provide as easy way to scale.
posted by rmmcclay at 5:39 AM on January 14, 2011

No, an easy way to scale it would be buying measuring tape for a few dollars and including it in the photograph.

He's got -a lot- of nests, has (hopefully) classified them correctly, but then documents them like a seventeen year-old girl's profile picture. *smacks head against a wall*

*again*
*and again*

I suppose it could be worse... he could have been puckering his lips in every photo with the camera on flash..

wait, that would have made it good... almost genius :o
posted by lemuring at 6:22 AM on January 14, 2011

My wife discovered a paper wasp nest attached to our house last summer - she wanted me to knock it down. I told her we should leave it be, if they caused any problems I'd take care of it. She was skeptical but grew increasingly interested in their activity as the summer wore on. I only kill what needs to be killed for safety or sustenance - leave the wasps alone.
posted by rotifer at 6:52 AM on January 14, 2011

I've been told that in Chinese (not sure whether Mandarin or what) the same word is used for bees and wasps. Can that be true? The distinction seems rather important.
posted by Segundus at 6:56 AM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Segundus, bees, wasps, sawflies and ants are all part of the Hymenoptera order of insects. I don't know if the Chinese word is the same for both bees and wasps though.
posted by onhazier at 7:08 AM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

By the way, the wasp nest collector, unless I'm getting my links confused, is also Wuffy T. Wolf...


Amazing. One video of the Wasp Nest Museum, and then eight videos of the guy dancing in a wolf costume.

That's what the Internet is, right there.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:22 AM on January 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

I had wasps coming into my house. Im the dead of a snow Yakima Winter. Our house was cold, but I guess not cold enough so they would hibernate.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:33 PM on January 14, 2011

While they are interesting photographic opportunities, wasps are to be avoided. Especially those bald-faced bastard bees!
posted by DaddyNewt at 12:45 PM on January 14, 2011

wasp.
posted by exlotuseater at 7:41 PM on January 14, 2011