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Project Noah Nature School
Dolichovespula maculata
The birds destroyed the outside shell to get at the larvae revealing the inside of the nest. Three tiers with a fourth just starting on top. The second pic shows what this nest looked like in early August. The size was approx. between a soccer ball and a basketball. The third pic shows the shoreline close to where the nest was found.
Spotted at the waters edge along North lake. When I first found the nest in early August it was very much alive. Constructed at the waters edge in thick wetland vegetation and cottonwood trees only about one meter above the water. Very hard to notice from any distance away.
The architecture and construction of these nest are amazing. Basically chewed up wood fiber mixed with the hornet's saliva. Built in complete darkness and working upside down the hornets construct each cell to there exact specifications using there antennae as a measuring device. As the nest becomes larger the outside shell has to be adjusted.
Spotted on Jan 5, 2018
Submitted on Jan 27, 2018
12 Comments
Thank you Zlatan.
Great spotting, and great notes, thanks Brian.
Thank you for your kind comments Leuba.
Nice to see the inner structures - good series and information. Thanks !
Thank you Ashley for the nomination.
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Your welcome, Brian38....
Thank you maplemoth662.
Photo No. 3: is a beautiful, outdoor photo, with lots of beautiful colors....
Photos No. 1 and No. 3: are beautiful photos....
Thanks Christine.
Great spotting and notes!