Posted by Judy Galvez on July 3, 2006

Q: We just found a large nest on our property. It hangs from a tree limb and may be 8-9" in diameter. It looks like the wasps wrapped the nest out of brown/grey "toilet paper" Wrapped it around and around. It's all inclosed, not an open honeycomb design.

I have a photo to send also, Thanks

Habitat: forest/open woods

State: Oregon

Habitat: forest/open woods

A: Your photo confirmed my suspicion - you have a hornet's nest. Can't be sure if it's the same species as we have in the East but in New York state our Bald-faced Hornets make nests exactly like this. I would guess that you either have the same or a very similar species of hornet.

To begin with, be very, very careful around this nest. Hornets are very defensive of their nest and will attack if they feel threatened. If you have children, be sure they know this is NOT a place to play! I've had these on my property too and simply avoided getting very close and never had any trouble. The hornets won't attack unless you provoke them. Probably your best defense is that you know about the nest and can simply avoid getting too close.

The nest itself is really a "work of art". The workers find bare wood that they chew up and mix with saliva and make paper to enlarge their nest. Although it may look like toilet paper, the entire structure is made up of these bits of chewed wood. Once winter arrives and the hornets are gone (all workeers die and only new queens over-winter), you can look at the nest up close and you'll see how it was constructed. You'll find, if you open the nest, that the typical honeycomb structure is inside the outer ball of paper.

If you have additional questions, don't hesitate to ask. Depending on where this nest is located, you may feel a need to remove it but if it isn't really dangerous (you have to decide on this) in its present location, I'd just leave the hornets alone. Thanks for writing and I hope this helps.

John Wiessinger ( July 3, 2006)