Monthly Archive May 2, 2025

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Wasp Season Again, what you need to know about wasp and hornets

Randy Bilesky BScF CPA RPF

President at Go Green

May 2, 2025

Wasp and hornet stings can be a real nuisance, especially during the warmer months when these insects are more active. Here’s a quick guide on what you should know about wasps, hornets, and how to handle their stings:

1. Key Differences Between Wasps and Hornets:

  • Wasps: Generally smaller and more slender with bright yellow and black coloring. They tend to be more aggressive, especially if their nest is threatened.
  • Hornets: Larger, more robust, and typically darker in color (often black with white or yellow markings). They are a type of wasp but are more aggressive and can defend their nests more aggressively.

2. Why Wasps and Hornets Sting:

  • Defense: Wasps and hornets are protective of their nests, and they sting when they feel threatened.
  • Seasonal Behavior: In late summer and fall, the nest’s colony size peaks, and the wasps become more irritable, especially as food sources decrease. This is when stings are more common.

3. Symptoms of a Sting:

  • Pain: Sharp, immediate pain that usually lasts a few minutes.
  • Swelling and Redness: The area around the sting can become swollen and red.
  • Itching: After the pain subsides, itching may occur.
  • Increased Risk for Allergies: If you’re allergic to wasp or hornet venom, stings can lead to more serious reactions, such as difficulty breathing, swelling in areas away from the sting site, dizziness, or even anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction).

4. What to Do If Stung:

  • Stay Calm: Don’t panic, as this could provoke more aggression from other wasps or hornets nearby.
  • Remove the Stinger: If you’re stung by a wasp (not a hornet, since hornets don’t leave their stinger behind), you can use a flat edge (like a credit card) to scrape the stinger off.
  • Clean the Area: Wash the sting site with soap and water to avoid infection.
  • Ice or Cold Compress: Apply ice to the sting site to reduce swelling and numb the pain.
  • Over-the-Counter Treatments: Hydrocortisone creams, antihistamines, or pain relievers can help with swelling and pain.

5. Allergic Reactions to Watch Out For:

  • Mild Reactions: Redness, swelling, and itching at the site.
  • Severe Reactions: Trouble breathing, swelling of the lips, throat, or face, dizziness, or a rapid pulse. If this happens, seek medical help immediately. Carrying an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) is recommended for people with known allergies to stings.

6. Preventing Stings:

  • Avoid Nesting Areas: Keep away from areas where wasps or hornets nest. These are often found in eaves, attics, tree branches, and sheds.
  • Wear Protective Clothing: When gardening or doing outdoor work, wear long sleeves, pants, and gloves to minimize exposed skin.
  • Stay Calm Around Wasps and Hornets: Avoid swatting at them, as this can provoke them. Instead, calmly walk away from the area.
  • Seal Trash and Food: Wasps are attracted to food sources, so keep food covered when eating outdoors and seal trash tightly.

7. Dealing with Nests:

  • If you discover a nest on your property, it’s best not to try to remove it yourself, especially if it’s large. You can call a pest control professional who will handle the nest safely.
  • Some people use DIY methods, like hanging a decoy wasp nest to deter other wasps, as they tend to be territorial.

8. Natural Remedies for Sting Relief:

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

    Archives