Hornetacolypse.

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:19 pm

You have some handy? What color are the legs? Are the eyes the widest part of the head, or is the head a little wider behind the eyes? What are the colors on the head? Which color would you say is more dominant on the head? What color is the head around the base of the eyes?

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Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:28 pm

Throw them in water and see of they float.
They may be ducks.

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Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:29 pm

Do you know a website for id'ing these species? I used to have a website for typing ants, but obviously that doesn't help with wasps/hornets.

And I wish I had a macroscope. Shit, I don't even have a magnifying glass....

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:36 pm

I looked.
Wikipedia says that bald faced hornets are not true hornets.

This scientist says that the terms "wasps" and "hornets" are informal.
Based on how he describes the wasp vs hornet lifesytles, I'd say you have hornets.

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Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:38 pm

GORDON wrote:Do you know a website for id'ing these species?

No, but all these pictures that have been posted look different to me. I can't see the ones you've got there in front of you, so I sumarized the differences I see into a few questions.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:46 pm

Paul wrote:I looked.
Wikipedia says that bald faced hornets are not true hornets.

This scientist says that the terms "wasps" and "hornets" are informal.
Based on how he describes the wasp vs hornet lifesytles, I'd say you have hornets.

So this could all be a matter of semantics.

As long as it isn't a bee, like my dumbass exterminator claimed. After seeing them fly into the foundation from 12 feet away. "Because they're small."

I said, "Did that look like a honeycomb, to you?"

I hope all bees make honeycombs like I assumed, at least in this region.

But then he didn't even know what I was talking about when I was pointing out the sentries around the hive.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:51 pm

I just recorded and studied the noise these insects made. It is metal, so they are definatedly WASPS.

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Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:53 pm

Sprayed the shit out of the crack in the foundation, today, including foaming a few in mid-air as they rushed me. I've got the traffic down to a 2-3 insects per minute trickle.

I'm going into the crawlspace after nightfall to retrieve the chemical delivery platform. After modifying it I will be sliding the last fogger under the hive. I anticipate no problems. I will be doing nothing more to this hive until after the winter freeze.

It's gonna make a hell of a trophy. Got to see if the science department at my old high school wants it.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:12 pm

3rd strike is completed, and fogger launched directly up the hive's shaft.

I'll take a peak now and then, but mission suspended until after the winter freeze when I will be extracting the hive.

Stand by until then for more pics.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:22 pm

First night's videos are online... the night we were scared shitless... but went in anyway.

Just keep that in mind when we're acting nervous. We were about to attack a nest with 300 up to possibly infinity hornets in it.

The first night is in 2 videos, 120MB in size, total. Right click/save as. Save my bandwidth. If we approach the monthly limit, I'm pulling them.

Why in 2 videos? Because I couldn't figure out how to join them... my software automatically puts them into 10 minute-max chunks. And I couldn't figure out how to join them. Also couldn't figure out how to shrink the file sizes. Also couldn't figure out how to cut out the boring video between minute 7.00 and 8 minutes 30 seconds when we're nailing up the cover.

Here they are.

http://www.dtman.com/covert/MAQ00001.mp4

http://www.dtman.com/covert/MAQ00002.mp4

BTW, I'm the one doing most of the talking.

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Post by **GORDON** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:47 pm

If anyone knows how to combine and reduce the size of those two clips, perhaps I can just host them on YouTube and let them provide the bandwidth.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:31 am

I haven't watched them yet.

As far as editing them, I'd just use Windows Movie Maker

Let's say you had a 10 minute clip and you wanted to edit out the minute between 8:00-9:00.
Put the 10 minute clip down. Then drag the right of the clip to the 8:00 mark. This cuts off the entire two minutes at the end.
Now, drag another copy of the 10 minute clip down to the end of this edited clip. This time, drag the left of that new 10 minute clip all the way to the 9:00 mark. This cuts out the first nine minutes, leaving you with the last minute.

To add a different movie, drag it to the end of what you've already edited.

As far as compressing the video goes, YouTube will do that for you. They have time constraints, not video size constraints. Whatever you upload is automatically converted to Flash.

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Paul · Post by **Paul** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:38 am

Watching the video now. Fast forwarded a bit... but yous till haven't opened the panel.

If you have someone in a wasp costume in there who crabs you and pulls you in, I think I'll owe you all of my worldly possessions. It'd "bee" the best joke ever.

Edit: After failing to shove his wood where he wanted it, Gordo says, "I wanted to get it up the hole. I didn't quite..."

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Post by **GORDON** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:43 pm

Paul wrote:I haven't watched them yet.

As far as editing them, I'd just use Windows Movie Maker

I just spent 30 minutes using that app to edit down the movie and I went to save it and now it's hung up. This might make me angry and we're going to have a Microsoftocalypse up in here.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:07 am

As I'm sure you've told other people:
Save early. Save often.

Post by **GORDON** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:27 am

I launched the app again, made a couple quick changes, and tried to save... lockup again.

Post by **GORDON** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:41 am

Back on topic:

Gah.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:31 am

I remember seeing torture devices on TV.
One was a wire mesh dildo, that was supposed to be filled with hornets. Now THAT is "Gah!"

The paper wasps around here are pretty docile. I've accidentally bumped their nests with my hands without them getting pissed. They're small things though, with just 1-5 wasps. Not a hive by any means.

Post by **GORDON** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:50 am

Goddammit, I'm watching 20-30 hornets go in and out of that gap every minute. Did they launch a new batch of eggs, or what?

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:10 pm

GORDON wrote:Goddammit, I'm watching 20-30 hornets go in and out of that gap every minute. Did they launch a new batch of eggs, or what?

A controlled incineration would take care of the fuckers. Just get a blowtorch, some flammable liquid, & (if you ain't a man) a fire extinguisher. Burn the mother down.