Wasps what's the point?

[45cotterless]

Old school says if you've been stung by a wasp, then get stung by a bee, it's so they cancel each other out. Either that or there were a load of masochists around in the old school. Come to think of it there were a load of sadists around too!

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Having been stung on the lip on monday I hate the f*ckers even more now

 

[swee'pea99]

A few years ago I hear the kitchen door being slammed and my wife came rushing in say there was a giant wasp in there. Old macho me makes light of it, it's only a wasp, don't make a fuss, I'll sort it out.

Reminds me of that bit in Annie Hall (or Manhattan?) where Diane Keaton calls Woody Allen to come over in the middle of the night, only to tell him it's 'cos there's a spider in the bathroom. After he's stopped abusing her for being such a wooss, he goes in 'to sort it out', only to retreat moments later, blanching with terror....

 

[Fnaar]

Time to roll out my favourite non-rhyming limerick...
There was a young man from Dundee
Who got stung on the nose by a wasp
When asked if it hurt
He said No, not much
It can do it again if it likes

 

[661-Pete]

Ok then. What to do about wasps?

At this time of year (and I emphasise 'this': late summer and autumn): by all means swat them if they're troublesome. They've finished their work for the year (raising the brood) and are only looking for sweet stuff to eke out their existence: they'll all be dead come November, anyway. Except the queens. If you recognise a queen (not easy, with wasps) shoo it away but try to leave it unharmed. But otherwise: I have no qualms about killing wasps.

In spring and early summer, on the other hand, wasps are doing a great job for us. They're raising the brood for the next generation, feeding them on a sort of 'paste' of pulverized insects which they've caught, many of which are pests. Also, at that time, they rarely sting or pester people, unless you disturb the nest. Try to leave them alone.

 

[Headgardener]

I have a phobia about wasps, I am not just scared of them, I won't even go near them when they are dead

I was driving my car the other day topless ( the car not me ) and one flew in, I pulled over at the side of the road and jumped out with it on my knee I was so panicked I did not see if it flew away or landed on the floor of my car, I was terrified. Must have taken me about 20 minutes to get back in the drivers seat, after a good search and drive the two minutes home again

Bugger.

 

[Velorum]

According to a programme on Radio 4 when attacked Wasps release pheromones that attract other Wasps from quite a distance. These are still emited when the insect is crushed / swatted.

Worth bearing in mind I guess.

Think yourself lucky you dont have to carry a syringe full of adrenalin in case of a sting. Its a PITA.

 

[User169]

Whilst it relates to a bee, this is reasonably amusing...


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIXLjG4vSFE&feature=related

 

[yashicamat]

I personally cannot stand wasps. I just seem to have a bit of a phobia of them, although I've only been stung a handful of times and never had any bad reactions. Anyway, reading about them on here prompted a bit of googling and this came up:

http://www.pestfreehome.co.uk/waspinator_details.htm

Anyone used one? Interesting idea although I am slightly dubious about the effectiveness of a purely visual solution.

 

[fossyant]

They do seem to be feeding off anything at the moment.....

Plenty of squashed snails for them to eat near me....crunch.........

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i was sat outside a pub the other day, and there was a 'dead' half pint of beer on the table. in it was one drowning wasp. i managed to coax four others into a beery demise too. good way to go, i suppose…

 

[Rezillo]

Picking some fruit off our plum tree this evening, I got stung on my top lip. Not only do I look like Extreme Leslie Ash, one side of my face has swollen up.

John

 

[threebikesmcginty]

One less wasp...

Just spotted this in the garden, it's a bit tricky to make it out but the nice spider has captured the nasty wasp and is, as I type, bundling him up ready for num nums.....

 

[Davidc]

One less wasp...

Just spotted this in the garden, it's a bit tricky to make it out but the nice spider has captured the nasty wasp and is, as I type, bundling him up ready for num nums.....

Ever heard the expression "Your mouth's bigger than your face"?

Well in that spider's case it needs to be "Your mouth's bigger than your body"!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Update - it's draining the wasp of it's innards now....gruesome