In message et, Dave
Liquorice writes
On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:23:20 -0000, Mary Fisher wrote:

It's a beautiful nest, if you have children let them see it and cut it,
again with a carving knife (it will be surprisingly tough inside)
vertically, to show the construction. Or just look and marvel yourself!

If the OP has no kids or gran kids, see if the local primary school would
like it for their nature table. Better still and a good excercise for the
OP to research and offer to do a short talk to the school on wasps and
their life cycle.

Wasps are a much maligned creature, yes they sting and it hurts like *FCK*
(experience) but a sting is rarely more than just pain and swelling for a
day or three. Generally Wasps don't sting unless seriously threatened so
it becomes an act of self defence.

One stung me on the calf while I was trying to destroy its nest in the
roof space of our extension a couple of years ago. No big deal.

Next attempt at destruction was in our present house, a converted barn.
The little devils had built their nest inside the wall, and you could
hear them literally eating the house. So, out with the spray. One zoomed
at me and got me on the eyebrow. Different result this time. Hurt like
hell, eye swelled up (hideously ugly photos available), ten days of eye
drops and antibiotics. Laid anti-wasp dust near the nest and haven't
seen a live one since.

Just like humans they get a bit
unpredictable when drunk. You wouldn't go up to a group of drunken youths
waving your arms about screaming and shouting trying to move 'em on so why
do the same with a wasp after it has been feeding on wind fall fruit?



--
Peter

Ying tong iddle-i po!