(HUGE) Bees Nest

On our walk Friday, we came dangerously close to this.

 

So the kiddos got creative. They wanted to warn people; and warn people they did.

You couldn't get within 20 feet of it without seeing their cute scary signs.

In looking up this nest on the internet, I discovered a few interesting facts about the residents. Are you aware that a nest this size can hold upwards of 5,000 wasps? Ewww...

These are aerial-nesting yellow jackets (genus Vespula). They are social wasps and can be highly aggressive as opposed to their counterparts, the ground-nesting yellow jackets whom are loners and don't tend to sting unless provoked (like if you inadvertently step on them while out for a stroll). Because they are wasps and not bees, they can sting MULTIPLE times. Yikes!

 

 

Brave Geoff went out last night around 10pm when it was dark and cool and sprayed that sucker till it was dripping;

while I watched from behind our front door.