Bald-faced Hornet Update

I never did get around to "dealing with" my bald-faced hornet nest. It's not that I became ultra sensitive and decided to let all living creatures be, it's that they didn't bother me and so I sort of forgot about them. Also, Mother Nature and Jack Frost essentially took care of the nest with some brutally cold nights and days over the last few weeks.

As the nest became more tattered I decided I should at least get it down and have a look inside. I am, albeit scared stiff by stinging insects, a biologist. After cutting the nest down, double bagging it, and freezing it at -40C for 12 hours in one of Biology's deep freezes, I decided to cut it open today.

I wasn't disappointed! This is just one of many cool pics, but freezing the emergence seems to be the most interesting. If you can stomach the large view ("T" couldn't...), the mouth details are quite striking!!