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KILLER WASP beheads one Queen and cuts another (still ALIVE) Queen in half!

I was inspecting some Queen cells that failed to hatch when I was visited by a KILLER WASP.

The queen cells had failed to hatch because of "Deformed Wing Virus". I had opened up several of the cells and laid the Queens out on the table to inspect them when the wasp flew in. The wasp decapitated one Queen and chewed the other Queen who was still alive in half. The wasp did come back for all the leftover bee parts but I didn't get video any of that.

Nature is not very pleasant sometimes, but she is efficient. This wasp was just making use of something that would have otherwise just gone to waste.

These wasps are mean. If you get too close to their nest they will sting you to keep you away and they can sting more than once. They build their paper like nests in small dry areas and seem to prefer it hot. Their nest resembles a small upside down umbrella, about the size of a medium fist. You will often find the nests under the eaves of your house or in the attic. But be warned, as I learned the hard way they like small metal enclosures that get lots of sun, like a lockbox or a hollow chain link fence post.

I have a metal shipping container that has a lockbox that gets lots of sun and I've had repeated problems with paper wasps building nests in this lockbox. I learned the hard way to look before I stick my hand in something like that.

Check out my last post. Flamethrower Wasp Removal. It shows how I removed them from this lockbox.

#beekeeping
#honeybees
#varroa destructor
#grafting

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