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Preserving the Nests of Bald-Faced Hornets

Monika Schnell
/
IPR Listener, Iowa City

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. 

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HorticultureHort DayHort Day
Lindsey Moon is IPR's Senior Digital Producer
Charity Nebbe is the host of IPR's Talk of Iowa