Wasps and People Aren’t Compatible
Okay, so here’s the thing – we have a wasp’s nest tucked
into the crook of our garage door where it meets the house. As we enter or
leave we have the insects in plain sight and often very close. The nest is
getting bigger since we saw it a few days ago. We have to do something.
Wasps are actually beneficial in that they eat a lot of
other bugs but they are dangerous so near to people. They will sting if they
feel threatened, which is understandable - but not acceptable at a busy
threshold. Stings are painful (I know from prior experience), starting with the
sharp incision of the stinger. The injected venom stimulates the nerve endings
of pain receptors in the skin. Then the body releases a fluid to the site to
wash away the venom, which spreads it and causes redness and swelling around
the sting area. Not fun. And not something to play around with. Some people are
allergic to stings. Anaphylaxis can
cause minor irritations such as hives, swelling, nausea, vomiting, abdominal
cramps, and headaches. More severe reactions such as shock, dizziness,
unconsciousness, or difficulty breathing need immediate attention as they can
be life-threatening.
I tend to be
reluctant to harm anything in this world; I capture and release spiders found
in the house rather than kill them, shoo flies out the window, discourage ants
by spreading ground pepper at their points of entry. If this nest were anywhere
else I would probably let it be but wasps and people are not compatible so
close to each other. It is dangerous here; the nest must go. I hope the next
time the local wasps want to build a nest they find a more suitable place.
More than I wanted to know about wasps but helpful,
especially regarding wasp management:
A gentler perspective:
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vespids/intro.html
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