Wasp sting ....OWIE!

This evening when I got home I changed and popped outside to mow the lawn. I'd noticed a couple of wasps flying around near the fence while I was edging, and again when I opened the gate to take the mower into the back to cut the grass. Well, when I was done and opened the gate to come back out front and put the mower away ....YEE-OW! One of those nasty little buggers stung me just above my right elbow. It'd been years since I'd been stung by a bee, wasp, or any flying critter. Man, that hurt (still hurts, but only mildly sore now). I ran inside, tossed some bleach water on the sting -- that works on fire ant bites anyway (as I learned some months back) -- and held an ice cube to the sting for a minute or two to lessen the rather searing pain. A quick search on the internet and I was reminded that vinegar helps counteract the venom. So I slopped on some vinegar, spent a little more time with the ice, popped a couple ibuprofen, and went back outside for revenge.

Armed with a can of wasp and hornet spray (which is basically nerve gas for bugs), I kicked the fence gate post (since I wasn't sure exactly where the nest was) and then started blasting the little buggers as they came to investigate. OK, it may not have been the brightest thing to do, but this spray stuns and kills the bugs rather quickly, so I wasn't too concerned. For some reason I've never really been afraid of bees or wasps. Spiders kind of bother me, but not wasps. So now that's at least 5 wasp nests I've sprayed over the past few weeks. Total wasps killed: approx 25 (all nests combined). Total stings incurred: 1. That's not too bad, and I think it's good to get a sting now and then :-)

Comments

[Dr. Lavine]

I believe another remedy is alcohol, taken internally.

[Bob Little]

We just had a church picnic, and the bees were covering the food. One woman said to spread some laundry Bounce sheets on the ground, and other people concurred. Someone went to the store, got the Bounce sheets, and it was like magic. The bees went away. This would not work in getting bees out of an entire yard, but I wonder what would happen if you put Bounce sheets next to the nest. Apparently they hate the smell. - Bob

[Joe Litton]

Hmmm...I wonder if that would work with wasps ...since wasps are not bees. It's tempting to me - the next time I see a wasp nest - to grab a can of the wasp spray for protection and try sticking a sheet or 2 of fabric softener over the nest :-) ...could make for a good video if I could find someone to hold the cam (I know neither Shirley nor Ben would). Hmmmm....someone in this neighborhood must be insane....besides me.