Henderson County Couple Solves Mystery of Massive Nest with Social Media Help
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – A Henderson County couple turned to social media to identify the builders of an unusually large and intricately formed nest discovered on their property, ultimately learning it was constructed by European hornets.
Cheryl Stippich shared photos of the sizable nest online, sparking a flurry of guesses from the public. Initial reactions ranged from serious suggestions of paper wasps, mud daubers, and white-faced hornets to more humorous responses, including one commenter suggesting the nest “needs to be added to the mortgage.” Othre lighthearted ideas included “wack it and video” and references to the films Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Cocoon.
“Some of the responses were hilarious,” Stippich told WLOS.
The nest, described as tan and beige with a textured surface resembling rock formations, was attached to the couple’s shed ceiling and partially to the outside wall. Stippich noted the nest differed from typical wasp or hornet nests she’d previously encountered, which are usually smooth-sided and gray.
After her husband initially mistook the structure for an owl, Stippich photographed it and carefully investigated. Her husband sprayed the nest, revealing a single European hornet, allowing for positive identification based on its markings.
“Neither of us had ever seen anything like this before,” Stippich said.
The interior of the nest revealed multiple tiers of cell formations, though it proved delicate and easily disassembled. Stippich plans to donate the nest to a friend for use as a show-and-tell item in her grandchildren’s classroom.
According to the North carolina State Extension website, European hornets are an invasive species.
