wasps and bees is a modified egg-laying
organ (ovipositor);
hence only females can sting. Venom
from ant, bee and wasp stings is responsi- ble
for 40 to 100 deaths per year in the United States. Social
wasp and bee venom contains more than 30 compounds,
including biogenic amines, protein toxins and
various enzymes. Most deaths from insect stings are
the result of allergic reactions to venom proteins and
enzymes. Wasp stings
typically result in intense pain, with swelling
and redness at the site of the sting. Stings around
the head, eyes and neck are especially serious. While
pain is usually localized at the site of the sting, large
local and systemic (allergic) reactions are also possible.
Large local reactions occur when swelling and
pain extends beyond two inches from the site of the
sting. Swelling may involve an entire extremity, such
as a hand, arm or leg. Large local reactions are usually
not life-threatening, but may last for two to seven
days. About 5 percent of people who experi- ence
a large local reaction will suffer an anaphylactic (serious
systemic hypersensitivity) reaction if they are stung
subsequently. Systemic
allergic reactions occur when symptoms are
produced in body sites other than at the site of the
sting. These reactions — anaphylaxis or anaphy- lactic
reactions — range from a widespread rash, swelling
and itching to difficulty breathing. In severe reactions,
victims may develop a rapid pulse and low blood
pressure, shock or respiratory distress and even death.
Respiratory conditions account for more than half
of all deaths due to Hymenoptera stings. Anaphylaxis
typically occurs within 20 to 30 min- utes
of a sting, although shock and death can occur as quickly
as 10 to 15 minutes. It is critical to get some- one
experiencing a systemic reaction to emergency care
immediately. If you know that you are allergic to bee
or wasp venom, consult your physician to seewhether
you should carry an epinephrine emergency kit
or self-administer an antihistamine for life-saving purposes.
When Do Wasps Sting?
Vespid wasps are most likely to sting
when their nest
is disturbed. All social wasps will vigorously defend
their nests when disturbed. These wasps rarely
sting away from the nest, unless trapped or pressed
against the skin. Wasps
and bees are instinctively attracted to the upper
bodies of animals, so in the event of an attack it
is best to cover your head and run away quickly. The
best defense is to run to a building, car or other protected
place. Victims who stand in place and attempt
to swat their attackers will continue to receive
stings as the wasps summon reinforcements via
chemical communication. Unlike honey bees, wasps
do not leave a stinger in the skin and may sting repeatedly.
Solitary wasps,
on the other hand, rarely sting unless
mishandled or trapped against the skin. The venom
of solitary wasps is different from that of social
wasps and seldom causes more than momen- tary
pain. Because solitary wasps do not build a com- munity
nest, they do not attempt to defend their nest. Social
Wasps Paper Wasps
Paper wasps are one of the most common
vespid wasps seen
around homes and buildings. They are 3/4
to 1 inch long and generally reddish-orange
to dark brown.
They often have yellow body markings. Paper wasps
have three castes — infertile female workers, which
make up most of the wasps on nests during the summer;
males; and queens. Males and new queens are
produced primarily in late summer and fall. Unlike
yellowjackets and hornets, the paper wasp queen
is not much larger than the worker wasps. Paper
wasps build their nests from chewed wood fibers.
The comb, which hangs from a single filament, is
usually oriented downward and consists of a single tier
of hexagonal-shaped cells. Nests are most fre- quently
seen under the eaves of houses but may also be
found in attics, garages, storage sheds, barns, on shrubbery,
trees and a variety of protected sites. The typical
mature paper wasp nest contains 20 to 30 adults
and rarely more than 200 cells. Life
cycle. Colonies are founded in the spring by
queens that spend the winter in sheltered
hiding places.
Although early season queens may cooperate in
founding a nest, by midsummer there is usually only
one active egg-laying queen per nest. New nests are
constructed every year, often in the same general location
where nests were built the previous season. 2
Paper wasp (Polistes
carolina) foundresses. When a wasp colony has more
than one foundress the size of the
nest increases rapidly. However, only one
foundress becomes the queen.
(Photo – Garland McIlveen)
