When you are outdoors, wasps may not seem like intimidating creatures. They’re just small and flying around. But when wasps start attacking a group of people or pets in your backyard, they can become very dangerous with their stings. Here is what to do if it’s too late
Wasps are a common problem in the summertime. They usually come out of nowhere and can be quite aggressive, causing them to sting you repeatedly. If this happens, there is no need to panic as there are many things that can be done to deter wasps from coming back. Read more in detail here: how to stop wasps from coming back.
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Until lately, I had never had a problem with wasps, bees, hornets, or yellow jackets. Pollination of my fruits and veggies is something I’d want bees to do. I usually simply blow at them if they approach too near to me, and they fly away. I’m not used to being stung. There’s no harm, no foul.
Wasps, such as hornets and yellow jackets, are not bees, though. They resemble bees and belong to the Hymenoptera order and suborder Apocrita, however they are not bees.
Not only are they not bees, but most of them are poor pollinators due to their lack of fur-like bristles and pollen baskets, making them ineffective in our gardens and houses (of course, there are exceptions to this, like the fig wasp). Some of them are rather aggressive, and their sting is quite strong!
This is something I learnt the hard way this summer.
I had no idea that I had wasps. I was standing on my back porch near my back door, yelling at my dog to drop the peach she was eating. When I was harvesting a ripe one from my tree, she took it.
A blast of recurrent searing stings sprang out of nowhere on my left index finger! I responded by shaking my hand, and whatever had hurt me was vanished by the time I looked.
I couldn’t figure out what it was since I couldn’t see it. I had just plucked a peach from my tree and was wondering whether there was anything on it, but the fruit was in my other hand and I had just examined it for bugs when I picked it.
The wasp hive a few feet away from where I was standing when I was stung wasn’t visible until the following day. A few of wasps chased my dog before returning to their colony. That’s when I realized what had happened to me.
Let me tell you, the agony was excruciating! The fact that my dog still had a peach in her mouth and I was still attempting to persuade her to drop it was the only thing that kept me going. Peaches are toxic to dogs. For my neighbors, I’m sure this was a fun spectacle to see.
After a few moments, I couldn’t take it any longer and walked inside. After dumping the fruit on the deck, Koa followed me. It always works.
The agony, oh my goodness. I’m telling you, I had never idea a sting could be that painful. Normal bee stings have never bothered me, but this was excruciating.
Take my advise and keep wasps away from your yard before they get there.
Wasps Get Into What?
Wasps may enter your house and yard for a variety of reasons. They are enticed by:
- Flowers
- Plants
- Crumbs
- Sugary beverages
- Cans of garbage
- Spiders
- Insects
Do you have any of them in your yard? It’s reasonable to assume that you have a few of these objects in your backyard or on your patio. So, after wasps have been drawn to your yard, where do they build their nests?
Eaves, soffits, and gutters are common sites for them to build. Some wasps reside on the ground, while others may build nests in your wooden fence.
Is it Possible for Wasps to Be Beneficial?
Wasps may be a nuisance to homeowners, but they can also be valuable to the agricultural business. Wasps eat practically all pests, therefore they’re highly useful in that regard. Wasps are often used in agriculture to combat pests.
Is It True That They Sting?
Wasps are divided into two types: solitary and sociable. Compared to solitary wasps, social wasps sting more. Wasps in social groups remain together and defend their area by stinging what they perceive to be predators, such as humans.
This isn’t to suggest that lone wasps won’t sting you, but you’ll be less likely to get bitten by one. Hornets, yellow jackets, and paper wasps are social wasps, whereas mud daubers, pollen wasps, and potter wasps are solitary wasps.
Wasps sting, but unlike bees, they do not shed their stinger when they strike. They might sting numerous times as a result of this.
It’s particularly aggravating if wasps are nesting near a door or an area where humans or pets are often present. Even if you aren’t attempting to upset them, they will see your behavior as a danger to their colony.
They may sting as a result of this, as they did to me while I was merely standing on my deck.
What Happens If You Get Stuck by a Wasp?
The majority of individuals may survive a wasp sting with mild side effects such as:
- Pain that is restricted to one area
- Swelling that is restricted to one area
- Itching, burning, or redness at the sting location
The wasp’s venom has the potential to cause a more severe response. People who are allergic to wasp stings are at the greatest risk of experiencing severe responses, including:
- Skin exfoliation
- Skin with red pimples
- Breathing problems
Even if they are not allergic, those who have been stung numerous times and have had a considerable quantity of venom injected into them might have a strong response. The following are some of the effects of venom toxicity:
- Fever
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Fainting
- Convulsions
If you develop signs of wasp venom poisoning or an allergic response to wasp venom, get medical help right once.
It’s also vital to remember that a past wasp bite might cause an allergy to wasp venom. Even though you didn’t have an allergic response the previous time you were stung, it doesn’t imply you won’t the following time.
What to Do If You’ve Been Sting by a Wasp
After getting stung by a wasp, the first thing you should do is wash it well with soap and water. This will assist to remove part of the venom and lessen the chance of infection at the stung location.
Other therapies that may be done at home include:
- To minimize swelling, apply ice to the sting location.
- To relieve itching, use a hydrocortisone cream.
- Calamine lotion may be used to relieve itching.
- To relieve itching, use an antihistamine.
- Ibuprofen is a pain reliever.
You are not required to complete all of the tasks on this list. Only take what you need to get rid of your symptoms. Make careful you follow the dose directions and stay away from any potential interactions.
When I was first bitten, I was standing in my kitchen in agony, and I recalled that my grandparents used to prepare a paste of baking soda and water to apply to bee stings when I was a youngster, so I tried it.
Baking soda, it turns out, can aid with bee stings because its ph balances out the acidic ph of bee venom. The venom of wasps is really alkaline.
When it comes to neutralizing the venom from wasp stings, vinegar and lemon juice are preferable options. I wasn’t aware of this at the time of my sting, but it’s important to remember in the event that you’re bitten by a wasp or a bee.
Please see your veterinarian or pediatrician if your pet or kid has been stung by a wasp.
Which Seasons Do They Have the Most Activity?
During the spring and summer, wasps are active. The number of wasps reaches its peak in the summer, so that’s when you’ll see them most active.
Wasps are more active in the heat, so look for them in the middle to late summer during daylight hours.
How to Get Rid of Wasps
Before you get too worked up over wasps in your yard, keep in mind that there are things you can do to keep them away.
Wasps may be deterred in a variety of methods, including:
- Don’t leave food or Sugary beverages outside
- Gather crumbs
- Keep bird feeders away from the home, particularly hummingbird feeders.
- Do not keep pet food out in the open.
- In the spring, place one or two fake nests to fool the wasps into believing there are already wasps occupying the area.
- So they can’t get inside, seal any cracks or gaps around your residence.
- Plant minty-scented plants in containers around the home or in your yard.
What to Do If Wasps Have Already Infested Your Home
If you have wasps nesting in your yard or residence, you have a few alternatives on how to get rid of them.
Making a DIY wasp trap is one of the most common solutions. To attract wasps, a 2 liter Coke container and some bait are used. In this post from BobVila.com, you may learn how to create your own wasp trap.
If you come across a wasp inside your home, just vacuum it after it settles on a surface.
When there are a lot of wasps in your yard, you may keep an eye on them from afar and carefully observe where they travel. It’s possible that you’ll be able to see where they’re nesting.
If you want to take a more harsh approach in this scenario, you may buy professional wasp killing spray. You should spray early in the morning, around daybreak. The wasps will be sleeping in the nest, and you will be able to capture them all at once.
Make sure you’re wearing safety gear and that you have a clear way out. When spraying the nest, direct the spray towards the aperture via which the wasps would try to leave. Continue spraying for a few seconds before spraying the remainder of the nest.
Leave the area and walk inside after you’ve finished spraying the nest. If there is any further activity at the nest, spray again the following morning when they are not active.
Soapy water is a more environmentally friendly wasp-killing approach. If you have wasps nesting in a hole in your yard, this could be the best solution. Pour a huge bucket of water with dish soap in it and pour the full bucket into the hole at night or early in the morning to keep the wasps from flying out.
Remove the pail only once you’re certain the wasps are dead. If you use this procedure as well, you should wear protective clothes.
Another option is to hire a professional pest control company. Allow them to handle things so you don’t have to perform the dirty job.
I had a professional come out and spray the wasps in my case. They came out under warranty to take care of the wasps for me since I already had their service for the summer due to an infestation of another sort of insect on my property.
It is really simple to get a professional spray. They came to my home while I was at work after I sent them a photo and description of the wasp hive. They finished their work and put an invoice/service description on the door.
It’s important to bear in mind that the spray may take a few days to completely eliminate the wasps. This is due to the fact that they spray the hive and surrounding region during the day, when not all of the wasps are present. When they return at night, they ingest the spray residue and perish.
After you’ve gotten rid of your live wasps, you’ll need to remove the hive so that no new wasps attempt to make it their home.
I would proceed with caution for two reasons:
- Poison was recently sprayed on the hive.
- In case one of them hasn’t passed away yet,
Last Thoughts
Whether you already have a wasp issue or simply want to keep them from disrupting your time in the yard, the tactics I mentioned above should help you successfully keep wasps away. Allowing these annoying insects to spoil your summer is not a good idea.
Wasps are a nuisance. They can be dangerous, and they can cause serious injuries if you’re not careful. However, there is something that you can do to help prevent getting stung by wasps- use vinegar. Reference: how to get rid of wasps with vinegar.
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