Inside, you'd find a single egg or wasp larvae (if it has hatched) and a nice, juicy caterpillar for the larvae to feed on. The adult wasps has to find a mud/soil source from which to make these little nests. You obviously have red clay soil in your location!

Thanks so much for the follow up!!! I have dosed it heavily with insecticidal soap, but the infestation is so bad, I am not sure it is working, I will try again tomorrow. Where do you purchase a Neem Oil product? Is this the stuff that is supposed to keep them from laying their eggs and help prevent their return? I may try ambush...how toxic is that stuff? I have a dog, but I would prevent her from coming into the area... This may be a dumb question...once all the dead leaves are gone (which is most of them)...will they regenerate this season at all? We are in Zone 3, so we should be expecting our first overnight frost sometime in October.

Hi Mike If you really want virginia creeper, and want it to grow quickly, go with roots. A caution though - virginia creeper and will quickly take over if the soil and light are right. Down here in TN, it can grow so fast it engulfs trees. it will cover and kill small shrubs. Critters. We have chipmunks and mice who live among the underbrush. Many small birds will use it as cover too. I can't answer when to plant up there. I can tell you that it starts growing rather quickly down here, around April, after frost. plan carefully where you want to put it, as it spreads through its roots, and vines. Once established, you will have some work to keep it where it needs to be! good luck

Some 15 years ago I developed an allergy to PI and did some research - a vast majority of people will develop the allergy to PI after repeated exposures. I've been an "outdoorsy" person all my life, know I have inadvertently walked into it, but never had a reaction until I was 40+. Got it off the dog who chased a rabbit thru it. Now, after many years of pulling VC off our fence and spraying it with bush kill, I have a reaction to VC. I was wearing gloves but had on a short sleeve t-shirt. Some of the pulled out vines got on my arm, thus sap got on my arm. With PI, urushiol is on the surface of the leaves and stems, so contact with the plant leaves oil on the skin. But the oil evaporates into the air, so very sensitive people can manifest a reaction by being in close proximity to poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac. Zanfel is the only product that was effective for me. It neutralizes the oil in the skin. Follow directions carefully and it really works. Expensive ($35.00 per 1 oz tube) but worth every penny. One tube was enough to clear up blisters on both legs and arms, neck and lower face. On my allergic reaction to VC, the Zanfel has been helpful but much less effective, because it's not made for this application. I've used CalaGel, Ivarest (CalaDryl), washing with a variety of soaps, AloeVera pure gel, and ice packs - all with tempory relief. The Aloe and ice packs help relief the burning and itching the most but can't keep ice on it as much as I would like. The pain wakes me up at night so I've been sleeping with an ice pack. I suppose it's time to see the doctor, maybe need steriods. Thanks to all who have commented about your experience with VC - one of the weeds from hell.