-Folsom, California
May 2011
There are over 75,000 species of Wasps. So are they friend or foe? When one is confronted with a wasp, the primal instinct or natural response is to flee. This impulse is born of a need to survive. You see, wasps are capable of causing great harm and even death in some instances. Hundreds (perhaps thousands) of people in the United States die each year from allergic reactions to the venom of these insects. And because wasps are capable of stinging several times over without losing their stinger, they can be extremely dangerous to those who are susceptible to anaphylactic shock. It is believed that many of the deaths attributed to auto accidents, heart attack or heat stroke are actually a result of stings by venomous insects, such as Wasps.
But is there any redeeming value to Wasps? Well, first of all, being that they are predators of caterpillars and other insects which are harmful to crops and shade trees, they are quite beneficial to farmers. Wasps control insect populations by feeding their young numerous pests that man finds unsavory, such as flies and various other insect species. Wasp predators are numerous. Although they sport bright colors, intended to deter predators, wasps are eaten by beetles, moths, dragonflys, birds, bats, rats, and skunks! Wolverines and weasels are also fans of the delicious wasp.
“They’re more afraid of you than you are of them”, this old adage is true. You see Wasps are nearsighted, so a Wasp may come quite close to a source just to investigate it. And often times, the Wasp is only investigating food or foe when they are provoked into defensive action. The closer in proximity they are to us and our loved ones, the more chance there is for altercation and provocation.
So the answer is in the Nest. Identifying a Wasp nest is usually simple. They are pretty ugly really, appearing as ‘mud balls’ and are found under eaves and overhangs in out of the way places. These domiciles are made out of scraps of mud or wood mixed with saliva and if you have a tile roof, look out for Wasps as they are known to prefer the coolness under the protective clay tiles that have become so popular with new construction. This is where Wasps are seen flying in and out during the day. So the best time to treat a Wasp nest is in the cool, dark hours, not at the height of their activity in the midday sun. Remember, it is important to remove a Wasp nest in its entirety after it has been treated and vacated and knocking down the nest without treating it will be ineffective. Wasps have been known to rebuild untreated nests. However, treatment and removal (in that order) will ensure against this as well as the likelihood of other insects assuming the nest and bringing with them new bacteria and disease.
This summer, remember that adult Wasps are fond of sweet smells and nectar, so minimizing the use of pleasantly scented cosmetics and toiletries when you know you will be out in Wasp territory, may lessen your chances of being the treat of choice for Wasps (some of which can travel up to 3,000 feet from the nest in search of food).
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