I had about 6 wasps making a nest under the eave of my back patio for the past month or so. My patio is enclosed with windows so I didn't feel the need to disturb them and enjoyed watching them built their next and seeing it grow bigger each day. Last week, by the time they had about 4 little eggs in the holes of the nest, I went out in the morning to see the nest gone and laying on the ground! The landscaper for the hoa found it and knocked it down sometime that morning. I even saw some spray residue on my window. I was pretty pissed and upset for those poor wasps. Now a week later, there's 3 wasps left and they've started a new nest, but only a very tiny ball...much smaller than the original nest and they seem to be just hanging off it. They're hardly moving at all and I feel so sorry for them. Are they dying because it's late in the season and they don't have the energy to start a whole new nest? I feel so badly for them. They're just clinging to the tiny new nest and each other and hardly moving at all. Are they grieving? Dying? I wish I could help the poor little things. I have another nest in the front on the inside the porch light. Landscaper obviously hasn't seen that one (hopefully never does!) and I pass it pretty close when entering and exiting my house daily. They never bother me and I don't bother them.

That looks like a blown out nest- as in no longer used. So you can do whatever you like with it, the wasps are gone and won't be returning. Wasps tend to make a nest, use it, then when the frosts come die off, and the queen either hibernates in the old nest or in her own cell elsewhere. Next year they make a new nest. By the looks of how blown open your nest is, I doubt there's still anyone in there.

I hate to say it, Martha, but I would spray it. They do sting and they kill caterpillars in large numbers. In one sense the choice is more wasps or more caterpillars. I have seen these wasps kill very large caterpillars. It isn't pretty seeing what happens. (I won't describe it.) I try very hard not to kill anything in the garden. I don't kill cockroaches or pretty much any other insects other than fire ants and wasps. A wasp really hurt my dog--stung her in the nose. I have friends and relatives who are allergic to wasp bites. My brother had a severe allergic reaction after a bite. The people at the hospital said it could have been life-threatening had he not been take there very soon afterwards. In his case the wasp got tangled up in his hair and stung him as he was trying to get it out. No doubt these wasps serve a purpose in the natural order of things. You are presenting them with a banquet of eggs and caterpillars. I'm sure they really like your garden. I do respect your opinion and that of others to not kill them. I simply have another point of view.

Baldfaced Hornet. I wouldn't advise that anyone try to remove a nest themself; the risk for an attack is great unless you know exactly what you're doing. On the other hand, it might not pose a risk at all, depending on if the nest is located away from activity or not. Do some Googling to read about these insects so that you can make an informed and safe decision.