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Do I Have A Hornets' Nest?

14 years ago

I think that I may, but I can't see any kind of nest anywhere. But, there are always at least two hornets that are ALWAYS hovering above my patio. They are very territorial and never leave their "posts". I live in a ground floor apartment with a patio and, above my front door, there are the decks for the apartments upstairs. (It's one long deck separated by a privacy wall.) From sunrise to sunset there is always one hornet that hovers over one end of the deck and another that "watches" the other end and underneath it. I've looked everywhere and I don't see a hornets' nest.

That said, I cannot imagine a reason why these two beasts are there ALL OF THE TIME unless they are...I don't know? Guarding something? They never leave. For a few weeks now.

At first, they were just there. Not a big problem. They were just hovering and buzzing overhead, but they are now attacking birds that fly by and killing bumblebees and I'm a little concerned. I went outside today and one of them keep flying at me in a way that seemed (for lack of a better word) intimidating. I'm no expert but, it seems to me, that if insects stick to a certain spot and defend it then there is a reason for that.

I called my landlord and from his tone I could tell that he thought that I was being overly dramatic. If I don't see a nest then there isn't a problem. He'll look around the next time that he is over to cut the grass.

Am I being overly dramatic? My slight understanding of hornets is that if there are a few in the Spring there'll be MANY more in the Summer. I don't want to have to wear a beekeeper's outfit to leave the house in the morning!

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Comments (7)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years ago
Are you certain that you're observing hornets and not carpenter bees? I ask this because you are describing carpenter bees' behavior to a 'T'. The male bees are the aggressive ones, funny considering that they can't sting.
taz6122
14 years ago
I suggest you do a google search for carpenter bees and hornets. They do not look the same.
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years ago
taz, are you talking to me or the poster of this question?
taz6122
14 years ago
@ rhizo The poster. Guess I should have directed it that way. I agree with your statement. My brother had carpenter bees and they acted the same way.
shuredkite
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you both. Now I feel absolutely silly. I've been living in fear of hornet stings for all of this time when they were only harmless, stingless things. I'll just swat them now and be done with it!
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years ago
Don't feel silly. How could you have known?

By the way, look around at the wooden surfaces that surround you when outside. If you see any perfectly round holes, you'll know that a female bee has been at work. The holes will be large enough for you to insert a finger. If you happen to see a BUNCH of these holes, then I'd call your landlord again. Carpenter bees, in large numbers, can weaken outdoor structures. For every bossy male you encounter, there is a female (unusual in the insect world) mate. That female is capable of drilling several holes into which she will deposit one egg.

I love the one or two that we have every year. They are so much fun to mess with. Sheesh, what an attitude! "Hey, you wanna piece of me?"
Kimmsr
14 years ago
Male Carpenter Bees, while they appear quite aggressive, do not have stingers so they cannot do you any harm. This link may be of some help.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef611.asp
Hornets, and Yellow Jackets, are wasps and they can be serious potential threats to you and yours, although I have Paper Wasps and Hornets nesting in various places that have never threatened me and do not seem to be bothered by my presence. Now Yellow Jackets are just plain ornery, even though they help control some insect pests.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef620.asp

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