If you look closely at the trees right now, you can see things previous hidden, like the nests of bald-faced hornets.
This hour on Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe talks with Iowa State University Extension Entomologist Donald Lewis about how to preserve a nest if you find one, and why you might want to if you do.
“You can recognize a nest by its silhouette, usually near the end of a branch… females take wood fibers that they chew and mix with wasp spit. Then they press out a paper mache type material. You think, really, an insect made that? It’s just so cool.”
Lewis says if you crack one open, it looks like the inside of a honeycomb. He has three hanging in his office as decoration.
During this episode of Talk of Iowa, Iowa State University Extension Horticulturalist Richard Jauron also joins the conversation to take listener questions.