Among the many species of large wasps in our world, some create beautiful nests from raw materials around them. Paper wasps and hornets scrape wood fibers from trees to create their nests. Others use soil to create earthen structures, the most recognizable being that of Organ Pipe Mud Daubers.
Finding the motionless, rigid body of an insect covered with odd spiky protrusions is certain to get anyone’s attention. My friend Shawn Harris had a typical reaction when he asked me about his recent observation – “What the Frankenstein is this!?! My response – “Why, that is just your typical Zombie Wasp. Cool!”