Bald-faced hornets are ready for you; that is the message from this trio on entrance hole guard duty. Mess with their papery nests and they will counter attack with  powerful stings of venom that can be just pure pain, or if you are sensitive to 'bee stings' a life-threatening allergic reaction  that can close down your airway may result. (Hornets are not bees, they are the largest member of our wasp family.) These winged warriors of our wild kingdom of stinging insects are not looking for human flesh.  They zip away from the nest in search of bugs, caterpillars and other meaty treats; many of them found in your garden: and that is good for your veggies. But if you take a swipe at a nest, run a mower underneath one, or in other ways stir them into a defensive or attack mood you will quickly discover  the very gates of hell.