There are about five of these nests located in a row outside my home. After spending time researching, I am unable to determine whether this is a wasp or a hornet nest, and I am too afraid to get too close to the nest to inspect the insect. The Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (https://www.gov.mb.ca/housing/pubs/pests/bees.pdf) state that wasps and hornets have similar, hairless bodies, but the major difference between the two is their size and colouring. The issue that has been established with these nests falls with my mother: she wanted to get rid of them because she is afraid that my cat will get stung by them when we are not home (he sleeps under this area during the day). The Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (https://www.gov.mb.ca/housing/pubs/pests/bees.pdf) state that wasps/hornets will only sting if they feel like their nest is in danger, and logistically there is no possibility that Kyoko will be able to jump high enough to catch the attention of the wasps/hornets. Hart (2017) mentions that wasps and hornets are predators: they play a vital ecological role by consuming insects as well as feeding them to their young.

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In this way, these wasps/hornets naturally control the amount of ‘pest’ insects that visit my garden. These wasps/hornets also play a role in transferring pollen when they drink nectar from the flowers in my garden (Hart 2017). Getting rid of these nests by means of harmful chemicals runs the risk of wasps and hornets becoming endangered, like their fellow fuzzy bee pollen-partner. Although wasps and hornets appear to be intimidating, they do a lot of good for my ecosystem: I recall seeing them pollinating amongst a few bees when spring came, and I am happy to know that they are they to protect my vegetable gardens from unwanted ‘pests’.