Hornets' nest in bird nesting box

[Billabong Karen]

I am fascinated by this hornets' nest. I first noticed it about a month ago, when I started seeing hornets flying in and out of the bird nesting box. Then two weeks ago I took this (not very good) photo:



This morning I walked by again, and was interested to see that the whole of the front of the nesting box was covered by the hornets' nest material:



They are clearly still hard at work, and didnt seem to mind me photographing their nest. I have found these hornets to be really quite peaceful creatures, not at all like their ferocious reputations! I dont know much about their life cycle though - will this nest continue through the winter, with the hornets hibernating in it?

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

I dont know much about their life cycle though - will this nest continue through the winter, with the hornets hibernating in it?

Like wasps, they won't over-winter as a colony - only the queens.

When we had a hornet colony, the Herts. recorder was very keen to check the nest for commensal species, after the colony had died out. Unfortunately the nest was inaccessible, so he couldn't do it.

Jim