Hornets differ from wasps mainly in their size, so any mention of the word ‘wasp’ in the following account includes hornets as well.
Is it possible to avoid being stung? Yes, definitely! I was often surrounded by hundreds of wasps or hornets during the three and a half years of my research, yet I was stung only three times – two of those by the same wasp! The reason I was stung at all was that I failed to notice wasps crawling into my shoes.
So, what are the tricks for avoiding wasp or hornet stings? Follow my advice below:
Male wasps can’t sting, but the females can, and do! These are the workers and queens. Most wasps we come across throughout the year are workers, but queens appear in the spring and early summer, then again in the autumn and early winter.
Wasps sting in two different circumstances:
- Self-defence
- Colony defence
- Self-defence
When a wasp or hornet is foraging some distance from its nest, it will sting only if physically provoked. Wasps are attracted to sweet foods and those containing meat, so you’re very likely to meet them at picnic sites and pub gardens, especially on warm summer’s days in August or September.
Adult wasps need sugar as a source of energy to fuel their active lifestyle. They also need meat as a source of protein to feed their growing sisters – the wasp grubs back home in the nest. The queen also needs protein to develop the thousands of eggs she lays throughout the summer.
The easiest way for a wasp to gather both sugar and meat is to steal it from us. At a pub or a picnic, worker wasps will be attracted to the smell of sugary foods and drinks, and to the odour of meat, such as a ham or sardine sandwich.
So, to avoid being stung, if you’re not close to the wasp’s nest, follow these simple rules:
1. Wasps have an exceptional sense of smell, and will crawl on our skin to investigate, so make sure you keep your face and hands clean to remove any traces of meat or sugar. Wet wipes are useful for this.
2. Don’t make sudden or quick movements if a wasp flies close, or lands on you. Flailing your arms about is likely to provoke. Try to stay calm.
3. If a wasp crawls on you, stay still and allow it to fly away in its own time.
4. If a wasp gets into your clothing, try to keep as still as possible until it finds its way out. If you move, you’re likely to press your clothing against the wasp, and it will sting.
Remember to check your drink, especially if you’re drinking from a can. A wasp can crawl in, then sting you in the mouth or throat if you swallow it.
Check your curtains and bedding in the autumn. Queen wasps often find their way into houses, looking for somewhere to hibernate. Favourite hibernation sites are net curtains in cool bedrooms.
Queen wasps are likely to be aroused from hibernation if the temperature rises significantly. This can happen if a normally unheated bedroom is warmed up for guests in the winter.
2. Colony defence
If a potential predator disturbs a wasp or hornet nest, a mass attack is provoked. In my research I discovered that this colony-defence strategy operates within a radius of about 3 metres from the nest. A chemical called an alarm pheromone, in the venom of a wasp, is released when the wasp stings, then evaporates, spreading through the air and signalling other wasps to home in and attack the source of the pheromone: the place where you were stung. The attack then escalates, as each sting releases more of the pheromone.
So, to avoid being stung multiple times if you’re unlucky enough to be close to the wasp’s nest, follow these rules:
- Avoid physically disturbing the nest. If it’s in the ground, avoid mowing over the entrance, or digging near it. If it’s in a tree or bush, avoid shaking the branches. Don’t prune a shrub in late summer, until you have carefully checked that there is no wasps’ nest suspended in it. If the nest is in a shed or roof-space, avoid any movement that may cause the nest to vibrate.
- Wear white or pale colours if you’re gardening in July to September. Wasps are then much less likely to attack, even if you’re within the 3 metre danger zone. In the UK the main predators of wasp colonies are badgers and honey buzzards – both dark-coloured animals.
- If you are stung, and you didn’t notice the nest, move quickly, but smoothly, out of the 3 metre danger zone around the nest entrance. This will reduce the chances of the alarm pheromone attracting other wasps to attack you.
- Don’t flap your arms or move jerkily – attacking wasps are attracted to fast movements.
- If there’s a chance you have a wasps’ nest you hadn’t noticed, avoid using scent, perfume or after-shave immediately before gardening in mid to late summer. Wasps are more likely to attack if they smell unfamiliar odours within the 3 metre danger zone.
What to do if you’re stung by a wasp or a bee
Wasp, hornet and bee stings are painful, especially in very sensitive areas of the body, such as the finger-tips. Swelling at the site of the sting is normal, and bee stings are usually left in the skin, as their barbs are bigger than the ones on wasp stings. This means that wasps can withdraw their stings and use them more than once.
If stung by a bee, pull the sting out by gripping it at the base. Avoid squeezing the tiny venom sac at the top, as this will send more venom into the wound.
Whether you’re stung by a bee, wasp or hornet, there are various folk-remedies you can try, that may help reduce the pain and swelling. It’s a fallacy that bee stings are acidic and wasp stings alkaline: both are roughly neutral. However, putting vinegar or bicarbonate of soda on either type of sting could make a difference, as the low pH of vinegar, or the high pH of bicarb can both help to disrupt some of the complex chemicals in the venom. I’ve heard that even the rubbing of raw onion juice on the site of the sting can help, for the same reason.
A very small minority of people are allergic to wasp or bee venom. If the area of swelling around the site of the sting begins to extend, then you may be one of these persons. Such a reaction tends to become more severe with each subsequent sting and can result in a condition known as anaphylaxis. This can happen in hypersensitive individuals, even if their next sting isn’t for months or years later. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition, so if you react severely to a sting, see your GP. You may be prescribed an EpiPen for injecting yourself with adrenaline, if ever you’re stung again.
If you or someone else shows extremely severe symptoms within minutes of a sting, anaphylaxis could be coming on. Such symptoms may include difficulty in breathing; swollen lips, throat or tongue; confusion or dizziness. In this case, call 999 immediately and get to A&E.