Posted on September 24, 2014 By Michael Griffiths
Sunrise: 06.58 Sunset: 07.03
I am seeing an increasing number of dead hornets around the nest – the colder the night, the more I see.
Category: Hoo Wood, Hornet, Insects, Invertebrates, Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve, Wildlife Photography Tags: Canon 500D DSLR camera., Canon EFS 60 mm f2.8 macro lens, Hornet, Insects, Kidderminster, nature, Nature Photography., Photography, Stourport on Severn, Wilden Marsh, Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve, wildlife photography, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
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Another sign the land is going to sleep.
Indeed it is, Alex.
Hello Mike, If I PM you my address would you be able to send me a couple if you find any in good condition? I can send you a container.
Dead or alive?
Hah, I meant dead.
You want me to pluck dead hornets from a tree trunk and post them to you? What if they are not dead and are resting? I know when I think they are dead when I go back the next day and they haven’t moved. What if they are not quite dead and they cover me with pheromones? The whole nest will attack me and I still have a gammy knee, Marc. I’d rather not take the chance.
You are not aiming to get me stung are you, Marc;
LOL, I just need one for reference for an illustration, I wasn’t intending to use you as live bait. I’m sure I can find one at my end. They’ll all be dead soon :0)
I don’t like the way they have been looking at me lately, and gangs of them have chased me away on a few occasions. I reckon they have given me fair warning, Marc. 😉
Sounds like they are just biding their time :0)
They are waiting until I reach out to grab one, Marc.
Waiting for me to go just that little bit too far, perhaps.
Apart from the Queen of course. Sorry I thought you were knee deep in them!
The nest tree is just off a ridge path, on a steep bank, and is surrounded with dense brambles, Marc. The dead hornets hold on to the tree bark for a couple of days and then disappear; they either fall off, or the live hornets dispose of the dead bodies.
Yes I wonder if they are cannibalistic?
Well, Vespa Crabro are carnivorous, but I don’t know if they eat each other.
Or just pick up the males, they don’t have a sting :0)