30 Years Ago – September 1991 (2)

The other big event for our family 30 years ago in September 1991 was finding a very large wasp nest in a maple tree near our mailbox. It was concerning to have wasps so close to a place we walked at least once a day. We decided the best thing to do was to spray the nest….wait a few days then cut it down.

It took 2-3 applications of the poison over several days before the activity around the hive ceased. Seven days after the first application – I cut down the nest and sliced it open There were layers of hexagonal compartments for eggs – some hatched, some still full of larvae. And there were a lot of dead insects. The nest was very light weight…but strong. My husband videotaped the action (with a 1991 vintage camera) – my 2-year-old daughter was marginally interested. These wasps are among the great architects of the insect world using thin layers of cellulose pulp to construct their nest. I regret that we didn’t keep parts of the nest in a display box.

In the 30 years since, we’ve never had a nest in a problematic place again. These insects are predators – controlling pests – so it’s good to leave them if the nest is not in a location that it could be accidently bumped by a person that would result in a lot of bites!

It seems that the numbers of these insects must be in decline just like many of the other insects. Culturally we usually think more negatively about wasps because of their sting than about other insects (butterflies are beautiful and they are pollinators…honey bees make honey and are pollinators…etc.), but ever insect plays a role in the ecosystem and our indiscriminate killing of them is producing unanticipated consequences. We’re going to need our ecosystems as health as possible to adapt to climate change impacts the world over…and that requires insects!