Paper wasp or hornet nest wads

[Russ T Frizzen]

Could it have something to do with being saturated with powder residue?

 

[paulvallandigham]

Russ: I have to doubt it. The nests are made of almost pure cellulose, and that just doesn't absorb anything. The only thing I think you might smell would be the sulfur dioxide from the black powder that might be residue on some of the wadding. But nothing else comes to mind. Cellulose has no odor. Its possible that some of the nectar stored in the comb and nest remains and is being burned by the powder charge. That would give off the odor of burned Cinnamon toast, or Burned Sugar- which is always a bitter, and acrid smell.

 

[paulab]

I've got one for you guys. About 40 years ago a diver recovered a flintlock trade gun type of firearm from under lake Michigan. Having been under 35 ft. of fresh water for 200 years didn't help the finish much [ha ha] When it was X-rayed to see if it was loaded they found out that it most certainly was. Somehow they pulled the charge out and found out that the wadding consisted of BEAVER FUR! If you were a voyageur paddling a trade canoe loaded with furs, I'll bet a pinch of beaver pelt would be easier to find than a hornet's nest.

 

[bingo1952]

Maybe some dead larvae were still inside. They would be mostly protein and that definitely stinks when burned.

 

[bingo1952]

I'll bet that one stunk too when it was shot, burning hair and such. :barf:

 

[tg]

They would likely carry a bag of fur clippings so to have it on hand, probably did stink a bit when they shot.