This informative post will be published on Saturday along with my usual writing.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

Where might you find someone who’s a real keeper?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

One of the insect world’s most interesting members is the hornet.  There is much more to this creature than one might think.

Here are some interesting facts about the hornet:

• Description:  Related to bees with small waist, amber veined wings, and stinger at end of abdomen.
• Habitat:  Forests, towns, suburbs with nests attached to trees or buildings.
• Diet:  Insects such as flies and caterpillars.

The life cycle of the hornet is fascinating.  As the autumn frosts kill the workers in the nest, a fertilized female hibernates in a sheltered place.  In the spring she emerges and starts up a new nest, which is usually built in a hollow tree or protected area of a building.  

As spring continues, the first generation of offspring will all be female workers.  By late summer, males are produced from unfertilized eggs with one purpose.  They mate and then die.

Hornets hate the smell of mint.  By planting a plant mint around one’s house or keeping a pot of mint near the areas where these pests are usually found, hornets will likely keep away.   The use of peppermint oil has the same effect.

It is very important to be extra careful around a hornet nest.  The workers defend it fiercely and will string repeatedly.  As summer moves into autumn and killer frosts show up, the hornets will abandon the nest, and the life cycle will begin again in the spring.

Left:  contrast in size between a hornet and the human hand.  right:  Hornet nest in tree–keep a safe distance!  photographs courtesy of pinterest.

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

At the zoo