Health and Medical: July 2008 Archives

What Stung Me?

I was visiting family in Vermont a couple of weeks ago and after a wonderful meal together we sat around telling stories. Somehow we got into stories about our encounters with bees/wasps/hornets, etc. These little creatures are beneficial BUT they can turn a nice walk in the woods or a Sunday picnic into a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Beware!

 

My mother retold the "famous" one about me when I was very young. She thought she was hearing a fire engine, but saw with horror that it was me, running out of the forest behind our house screaming, being followed by a huge swarm of wasps/hornets. They were all over me, in my hair, in my clothing, etc. I was thrown into a tub of water and my mother proceeded to "debug" me.  I remember the incident well, even though I was quite small. Fortunately I was not allergic to them.

 

You'd think one attack in a life would be enough. Shortly after moving here to Washington I was taking a walk with a friend and my son around Clearwood Lake. A yellowjacket(?) flew in front of me, but I didn't take notice until I realized it wouldn't go away. I must have stepped on a fall nest, because before I knew it I was being attacked by them. I began swinging my jacket around, flailing my arms at my head, screaming obscenities, and getting stung over and over again.  They got into my pants at which point I had to take them off. There I was in my underwear, jumping up and down. What a scene. My son got bit once trying to "save" me, but then both he and my friend kept their distance, not knowing what to do. When I got back to my friend's house my scalp was on fire from all the stings. I was a bit shy about walking for quite some time after that.

 

So to put things in perspective, here's a little information about yellowjackets and paper wasps . 

 

Yellowjackets and Paper Wasps

Peter J. Landolt and Arthur L. Antonelli

 

Yellowjackets and paper wasps are beneficial insects. They feed their young numerous insects that ordinarily damage shade trees and crops. They also kill countless houseflies and blowflies. A few species of yellowjackets however, scavenge for meat and sweets and can become pests, especially at picnics and campgrounds. Even though they may at times become pests, yellowjackets and paper wasps are highly beneficial. Do not control them unless their stings present a hazard.

 

 

Identification

Yellowjacket workers are about 1/2 inch long, and appear short and stocky. All yellowjackets are yellow and black or white and black. Paper wasps are up to 3/4 inch long, and are more slender. Paper wasps may be distinguished from yellowjackets by their more slender body shape and longer legs. Although the golden paper wasp is easily distinguished from yellowjackets by its yellow and dark brown coloration, the newly introduced European paper wasp is quite similar in color pattern to yellowjackets. Identification is important, because paper wasps are valuable as biological control agents of garden pests.

Safety Precautions

Yellowjackets and paper wasps may become aroused and attack in defense of their nest when disturbed. If you decide to remove or spray a nest, follow these precautions:

• Cover yourself with thick clothing (including head, face, neck, and hands).

• Wear glasses to protect your eyes. Some species are capable of squirting venom for short distances and may target the face.

• Spray or remove aerial nests during the coolest part of the evening, on a cool day if possible.

• Carefully put the pesticide into the entrance hole of ground nests after dark. They may fly towards the light from your flashlight.

• If you are allergic to wasp stings, do not risk removing the nest yourself. Some people react strongly to the stings of bees and wasps. Symptoms can include swelling, nausea, dizziness, difficulty with breathing, and shock. Symptoms may be immediate or delayed for several hours. For most people without allergies, a sting may be no more than a minor annoyance or irritation at the time of the sting.

• In late summer, paper wasps and yellowjackets are attracted to the odors from decaying fruit. Avoid wearing perfumes, hair sprays, or other strong scents when in areas with abundant paper wasps and

yellowjackets. Also, avoid brightly colored clothing, particularly yellow, orange and red.

• Restrain children and others from throwing objects at wasp nests. This not only agitates the wasps, but makes them more likely to attack upon future encounters.

Treatment of Stings

There are commercial preparations, such as antihistaminic ointments and tablets, that are effective in reducing reactions to stings. People who are highly sensitive to stings should consider a desensitization procedure in an allergy clinic, and consult their physician about emergency kits which contain syringes with premeasured doses of aqueous epinephrine (for injection) antihistamine tablets, and frequently a bronchodilator(inhaler), which may also contain epinephrine.

From Louise: More natural remedies include the use of a paste made of baking soda and placed directly on the sting; apple cider vinegar swabbed on and around the site, or a combination of the two. Both are highly effective and readily available in most homes. 

Copyright 2003 Washington State University

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