Henderson County Couple โSolves โMystery of Massiveโ Nest with Social Media Help
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – A Henderson County โcouple turned to social media to identify the builders of โคan unusually large and intricately formed nest discovered on their property, ultimately โคlearning it was constructed by European hornets.
Cheryl Stippich shared photos of the sizable nest online, sparking aโค flurry ofโค guesses from the public. Initial reactions ranged from serious suggestions of paper wasps, mud daubers, and white-faced โฃhornets โขto more humorous responses, including one commenter suggesting the nest “needs to be added toโฃ the mortgage.” Othre lighthearted ideas included “wack it and video” and references to the films Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Cocoon.โข
“Some of โthe responses were hilarious,” Stippich toldโ WLOS.
The nest, described as โtan and beige with a textured โsurface resembling rock formations,โ was attached to the couple’s shed ceiling and partially to the outside wall. Stippich noted the nestโค differed from typical wasp or hornet nestsโ she’d previously encountered, which are usually smooth-sided and gray.
After her husband initially โฃmistook the structure for an owl, Stippich photographed it and carefully investigated. Her husband sprayed the nest, revealing a singleโฃ European hornet, allowing for positive identification based on its markings.
“Neither of us had ever seenโ anything like โฃthis before,” Stippich said.
The interior of the nest revealed multiple tiers of cell formations, though it proved delicate and easilyโข 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 anโ invasive species.