hornet nest

architecture

This structure is actually a nursery, filled with several horizontal layers of hexagonal
cells, in which eggs are laid and larvae are raised.These horizontal layers are
surrounded by a multi-layered envelope, which, like the cells, is made of masticated
wood fiber from weathered wood such as fence posts and hornet saliva. The different
colors reflect the different sources of wood that have been used.

exterior

The exterior of a Bald-faced Hornet nest consists of an outer envelope of paper that is
made up of a myriad of horizonal stripes of chewed up wood fibers that have been
mixed with hornet saliva. Each stripe represents a single hornet’s contribution. The
different colors represent different sources of wood. This outer envelope is only one of
several (up to 12 or more) that serve to insulate the innermost, active part of the nest.

inner construction

Inside these outer sheets are three or four horizontal tiers of hexagonal cells in which
eggs are laid and brood are raised. Access from one level to another is at the periphery
of the tiers, just inside the shell. The queen begins the nest, building a few cells and
raising female workers that then take over the cell-building while the queen continues to
lay eggs. As the number of hornets increases, so does the number of cells they build,
and as a result the tiers become wider and wider. When space runs out, the hornets
remove one or more of the innermost layers of insulating paper that form the envelope,
while constructing new sheets on the outside. The nest continues to grow in this fashion
until the queen’s egg-laying slows down at the end of the season.
The construction of these tiers of cells takes place upside down in total darkness, which
is, in itself, quite a feat. When they are constructing a cell, the hornets keep one
antenna inside the cell and the other on the outside. By monitoring the distance
between the two antennae tips they can judge thickness of the wall. They do a similar

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 thing with their mandibles, with one on each side of the wall, in order to straighten the
cell walls and squeeze the pulp flat to remove water.
if the cells were built sideways or upwards they would require constant attention from
the hornets until they dried in order to prevent them from sagging. Given that the cells
are downward-facing, one might wonder why the hornet larvae don’t fall out. Water has
a great affinity for uncoated paper (think of paper towels sucking up water against the
pull of gravity). Because the larvae are damp, they actually stick to the paper cell walls.
When they are ready to pupate, they must separate from the walls. They do this by
attaching themselves to the cell with silk and then spin a silk cocoon

How Do Hornets Collect Their Nests

Hornets collect their nests by waiting until the fall and then taking them down. They will
attach their nests to trees, buildings, or other structures. The hornets will take the nest
apart and reuse the materials for the following year
material methodology
→ layers
→

building organisation

Multi layer nest structure uses air between these layers to act as an insulators to
prevent temperature differences. This also enables perfect humidity for the hornet
larvaes.

building schedule

environment adaptability

predator prevention

Multi layer nest structure uses air between these layers to act as an insulators to
prevent temperature differences. This also enables perfect humidity for the hornet
larvaes.

The inside spaces of the honeycomb structure where eggs are been laid, also helps
to store food when the larvae hatches.

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 Nest Characteristics
Paper is the primary component in building hornet nests. The "paper" they
employ is made up of diligently chomped segments of leaves and wood. Tree
bark is a common element in their nests, often from plants such as crepe myrtles.
Hornets typically establish their nests on plants, sometimes are high in trees or
low in bushes. Hornet nests are even occasionally seen connected to man-made
buildings. They vary wildly in size, with possible diameters ranging from a few
inches to about the size of a basketball.

Colony Characteristics
She builds a first series of cells (up to 50) out of chewed tree bark. The cells are
arranged in horizontal layers named combs, each cell being vertical and closed at the
top.

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 ]As the colony size grows, new combs are added, and an envelope is built around the
cell layers, until the nest is entirely covered, with the exception of an entry hole.
How Do Hornets Make Their Nests?

The hornet queen starts the hive’s nest. She uses her mandibles to scrap away pieces
of wood fiber from any available source. The scrapings are then broken down by a
mixture of saliva and water inside the queen’s mouth. After a site is chosen for the nest,
the queen uses the pulp formed inside of her mouth to create a base on a sheltered
support structure to suspend the nest.

hornet nest 4