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By Ramona Frances

An entomologist investigating the stinging insects that attacked middle school students in Madera said they were neither hornets nor bees but the common Western yellow jacket.

"We do not have many hornets here," said Norman Smith, a recently retired entomologist for Fresno County. "They are solitary and uncommon."

The large underground nest found one block west of Martin Luther King Middle School was destroyed within two days of the Oct. 16 attack.

Smith identified the culprit (vespula pensylvanica) after receiving samples of a paper nest containing wasps in various stages of development.

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Ramona Frances Ramona Frances is a staff columnist, writer and photographer for the Madera Tribune. She writes a column called Master Gardener as well as other stories. You may contact Ramona at 674.8134 ext. 222 or by e-mail ramona (at) maderatribune.net The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.