When encountering wasps, a common reaction is to swat at them or quickly move away. However, experts advise remaining motionless as an effective strategy when wasps are nearby. Here we will explore the rationale behind standing still around wasps and provide tips for safely coexisting with these misunderstood insects.
Why do wasps sting?
Wasps, unlike bees, can sting repeatedly without dying. Their stings are used primarily for hunting and defense purposes. Here are some key reasons why wasps may sting:
– They feel threatened – Fast movements, swatting, and loud noises can trigger a wasp to sting as a self-defense mechanism. Staying still prevents the wasp from sensing danger.
– Their nest is disturbed – Wasps protect their nests fiercely. Stepping near a ground nest or bumping into a hanging nest provokes aggressive defense of their home.
– They want your food – Some wasp species become more aggressive around sugary drinks and foods. Best to avoid eating/drinking outdoors around wasps.
– It’s mating season – Late summer and fall is mating season, making wasps more territorial and defensive as they work to propagate their genetics.
Why staying still works
Freezing in place when a wasp is near signals to the wasp you are not a threat. Here’s why remaining motionless is effective:
– Avoids provoking attack – Your stillness helps prevent stimulating the wasp’s defensive response. Erratic movements and swatting tells wasps you are a predator.
– Allows time to assess – Standing still lets the wasp investigate its surroundings and realize you are not a danger to its nest.
– Prevents accidental crushing – If a wasp lands on you, holding still avoids pinching or crushing it, which would cause an instant sting reflex.
– They lose interest – Being motionless means you are not competing for their territory or food. Wasps tend to ignore uninteresting, non-moving organisms.
When is it okay to move?
Standing perfectly still is not always possible, especially if a wasp is landing on you. Here are some tips for when you can cautiously move:
– If a wasp is on your arm or leg, slowly brush it off with a light flick of your finger. Do not make crushing movements.
– Side-step slowly away once the wasp has flown a distance away from you. No sudden movements.
– If the wasp nest is out of sight, briskly walk away without excessive arm waving or running.
– If a wasp is near your face, protect your eyes but otherwise remain still. Wait for it to move away from your head.
– Gently shoo away wasps near food or drink by softly blowing air towards them. No puffing or swatting.
How long should you stand still?
Remaining motionless only needs to be temporary until the wasp loses interest. Here are some guidelines on standing still duration:
– 10-30 seconds – If a wasp is simply flying nearby. It will often buzz away on its own.
– 1-3 minutes – If one lands on your leg or arm, stay still while it investigates then flies off.
– 5-10 minutes – When near an active nest, until concentrated wasp activity diminishes.
– 15-20 minutes – In rare cases like disturbing a huge nest, until the swarm has completely dispersed.
Use your best judgment on stillness timeframes. The more wasps and closer the nest, the longer wait before moving.
What to do if stung
In the event you are stung despite your best efforts, follow these tips to treat wasp stings:
– Wash the sting area with soap and water to remove traces of venom.
– Apply a cold compress to reduce pain, swelling, and itchiness.
– Consider taking an oral antihistamine containing diphenhydramine to relieve itching.
– Monitor for signs of severe allergic reaction like difficulty breathing, major swelling, or dizziness and seek emergency care if they develop.
– Avoid scratching or picking at the sting as it can increase irritation and risk of infection.
– Use hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion to ease discomfort from itching.
– If pain is severe, take an over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Safety tips for avoiding stings
Some additional tips for steering clear of wasps and preventing stings:
– Remain vigilant outdoors and look for nests near your home or workplace. Report any nests on your property to a professional.
– Avoid wearing perfumes or scented lotions that may attract wasps.
– Keep skin and food covered at picnics or cookouts. Be careful around trash cans.
– Do not swat at or try to kill wasps. This will only antagonize them.
– Stay away from wasp nests and avoid areas where they congregate.
– Be extra cautious around birdbaths, gutters, crawl spaces, and attics where nests are common.
– If a wasp gets inside, use gentle motions to direct it back out an open door or window. Avoid killing it inside.
– Teach children to quietly alert adults if they see a wasp rather than screaming, running, or flailing.
When to call a professional
In some cases, wasp issues on your property may require professional removal services. Seek help if:
– There is a large, established nest with heavy traffic. Do not stand near or disturb these nests.
– Nests are located in difficult areas to reach like roofs, tall trees, or crawl spaces.
– You are allergic to stings and nests are on or near your home.
– After removing a nest, wasps rebuild in the same location repeatedly.
– You see evidence of wasps entering attics, vents, or elsewhere inside the home.
Only licensed exterminators should use pesticides on wasp nests. Improper use of chemicals can make problems worse.
Identifying different species of wasps
There are several species of wasps in North America. Here is a guide to identifying common wasps:
| Species | Description | Nesting Habits |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowjackets | Black and yellow bands, about 1/2 inch long | Underground holes or above-ground paper nests |
| Paper wasps | Long legs, slender bodies with black and yellow/brown bands, about 3/4 inch to 1 inch long | Umbrella-shaped gray paper nests in sheltered areas |
| Hornets | Large with white, black and yellow markings, up to 1.5 inches long | Papery nests in trees, shrubs, or under building eaves |
| Mud daubers | Long, thin waists, metallic blue or black bodies, up to 1.25 inches | Mud nest tubes attached to walls, rocks, or wood |
| Cicada killers | Big wasps up to 2 inches long with black bodies and bronze/rusty wings | Underground nests near trees and shrubs |
Being able to identify different wasp species can help assess nest locations and whether specific wasps pose a high stinging risk. Some are more docile than others.
Understanding wasp behaviors
Here are some insights into wasp behaviors that can improve safety and coexistence:
– Only female wasps have the ability to sting. Male wasps are harmless.
– Unmated queens overwinter in sheltered spots or leaf litter to start new nests each spring.
– Nests usually contain hundreds or thousands of wasps by late summer/fall when the colony is largest.
– Wasps have a complex communication system using pheromones to signal warnings, food locations, etc. to the colony.
– Various species utilize caterpillars, flies, tree sap, nectar, and human food as protein or sugar sources.
– Wasps are beneficial predators of household pests and pollinators of plants and crops. They help control insect populations naturally.
– Cold weather inactivates wasps, making them sluggish. This is why close encounters increase in summer and fall.
– Nest numbers fluctuate each year depending on weather, availability of nesting sites, and food supply.
Learning more about the behavior and life cycle of different wasp species can promote safety and coexistence rather than fear.
Coexisting with wasps
Here are some final tips for safely coexisting with wasps:
– Appreciate their role in pest control and pollination. They are not simply aggressive stinging insects.
– Take time to observe them from a distance and see their behaviors and interactions. Many species are fascinating to watch.
– If a nest is not a threat, consider leaving it be until winter rather than destroying it. The colony dies out seasonally.
– Use preventive sealing of cracks and openings to deter nest building on structures. Avoid outdoor lights at night.
– Keep areas clean and free of food remains, trash, uncovered drinks, etc. that attract wasps.
– Landscape with plants that deter wasps like mint, lavender, citronella, wormwood, and tea tree.
– Install wasp traps strategically to reduce localized populations without harming beneficial insects like bees.
With caution and understanding, we can safely coexist with wasps in shared outdoor environments. Simple preventive measures and stillness when encountering wasps can prevent the vast majority of stings.
Conclusion
Staying motionless when a wasp is nearby may seem counterintuitive but is actually the safest response. It prevents provoking the wasp and allows time for it to realize you are not a threat. Slowly moving away once the wasp is a safe distance reduces risk of attack. Avoid excessive motion, swatting, or loud noises which wasps interpret as aggression. Protect food, cover skin, and identify nest locations to limit encounters. Learning more about wasp behaviors and peacefully coexisting with them provides the best strategy for preventing stings. Though challenging, with proper precautions wasps and humans can safely share outdoor spaces.