Not many Have seen this guy/ gal up close and not be in a state of sheer panic or flailing for life. This my friends is a Bald Faced Hornet, and they aren't as terrible as they may seem.
Sure they live in something that resembles the Death Star from Start Wars. If you are so unfortunate to brush against this or the bush that its attached to they will surly send out the tie fighters and all of the reinforcements. Unlike bees, hornets have a smooth stinger and can sting multiple times before dying. Also when a hornet breaks its stinger off in your skin it sends out a pheromone that tells the other hornets who don't know where the danger is to sting that target.
So What are the benefits of this menace of the bush? Hornets are predators that serve a special function in controlling other populations of insects. Without hornets, insects like spiders, caterpillars, flies, crane flies and beetles would breed out of control and become a greater nuisance. Hornets control the populations of these pests by eating them as well as taking the time to pollinate some flowers along the way. its like pest control and a gardener all built into one. just dont disturb their home, they don't like that too much. Like the honey bee, hornets serve an essential function to fruiting and flowering plants. As they travel from plant to plant hornets also pollinate the flowers. Without hornets pollination wouldn't occur at the same rate, stunting that year's growing cycle and affecting the food chain
So if you keep your distance from it's death star like home Darth Vader will show mercy and let you be. Theses guys are awesome if you just keep your distance from its nest.
Whats your best/ worse encounter with a hornet I'd love to hear about it. drop a comment down below.
I DO NOT OWN THESE PHOTOS