waspnest?

[anniekat]

can someone confirm that this is a wasps' nest. looks like a work of art to me.

[The Woodman]

Yes, anniekat, it is a wasp nest and a work of art!

[ladyhawk]

Amazing work of art, Wasps are a amazing little beasties only from a distance though.

[triops]

It is a nest of Dolichovespula media, the Median wasp. A relatively recent resident to the UK, having spread Northwards since the first records in the 1980s. And yes, it is a work of art! When the nest is finally abandoned, late in the year, take it down, take it apart, and see what a miraculous construction it is.

[anniekat]

thanks for your replies. it isn't actually in my garden, but the people it 'belongs to' are just leaving it alone and i am hoping that i can have the nest when all the wasps - except the queen! - have gone. interesting that it is not a common wasp. shall have to look that median wasp up.

[anniekat]

maybe i could put it in for the turner prize - who would know!

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by anniekat

maybe i could put it in for the turner prize - who would know!

Bit conventional for that. Try entering an empty box, representing the place it would have been if the wasps had made it in the box. Oh, perhaps leave out the box as well. You could call it " ".

If you do, and it wins, remember me (hopefully financially).

Darn, the thread shows the carefully chosen number of blank spaces in the title as one space. Tricky working with a new media.

[triops]

Anniekat, the existing queen will die as well as all the workers and males (after leaving the nest). No wasps will stay in the nest. The new queens will hibernate in sheltered places and each will try to set up a new colony next year. The old nest will not be used, and not even recycled.

[anniekat]

hi meta menardi - knowledgeable and cynical too - i love it!!

[anniekat]

hi triops, ah right - what a shame - all that work for one year. i think the people in whose garden the nest is in actually want to keep the nest - how dare they!!!