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Stinging Insects |
| Insects that sting belong to a large and varied order of insects
known as Hymenoptera. Over 16,300 species are known in North America
alone. The insects we will review here will be the ones you are most
likely to encounter. |
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Lets start with a little Biology |
| Insects in this order have a complete Metamorphosis, (egg, larval,
pupal, and adult stages) in the development. |
| Some of these insects are solitary such as Cicada
Killers. These insects live alone and are required
to perform all the duties. They may only seek contact with like insects
for mating |
| Others are social, such as yellow jackets,
and some wasp. Social insects live together in groups or Colonies, and
have a distinctive division of labor. This social behavior makes them
very successful and the colonies populations can reach many thousands.
The colonies are divided into castes, the queen or queens, the workers
of which each group will have a specific duty, and the males. |
| The queen is the largest in the colony. She is the fertilized female and
thus the egg producer. The main body of the colony is made up of
workers. These workers are females but have not mated and do not produce
fertilized eggs. They can however at the end of the season produce
unfertilized eggs that will hatch into males. These males are needed for
mating at seasons end and will appear August through October. |
| Many colonies produce new queens at this time for mating. These newly
fertilized queens survive the winter and start new colonies in the
spring. |
| The life cycle of a wasp colony in a temperate zone will only be one
season. All the insects will perish in the winter, with the exception of
the fertilized females. |
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Wasp (Polistes
Species) |
| Reddish and dark brown, also golden, social wasp.
These insects live under the eves, in attics, and many
other warm areas. When the nest can be viewed, the
insects are also visible. |
| Nest consists of a single comb (one layer) and is
NOT covered by a protective envelope of nest materials. |
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Bald Faced Hornets |
| Black bodies with white markings, Pinched waste (wasp like).
Their nest are constructed aerially in trees and shrubs. They
may also build directly on a solid surface such as a wall or
even a window. |
| Nest can become quite large by the end of the summer. I have
removed nests over 24 inches long and 3 feet in circumference.
The nests have an elongated shape many times said to, "look like
a big gray football". Generally the color is gray, but can have
other color tones dependent upon the material the Paper nest
material is derived from. |
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Yellow Jackets |
| As the name implies, they are black and yellow striped.
Several types of this common insect are in many areas. The type
determines the preference of location of the nest site which can
be in trees, voids in wall, debris, and most of the time in the
ground. This is the reason they are many times referred to as
ground bees. The construct a multi-layered paper nest within a
protective covering usually within a void or the ground. |
| Yellow Jackets are by far the most dangerous stinging insect
in North America. Many times you when read about an individual
attacked by "bees" and sometimes killed, the attackers are
yellow jackets. When they build their nest in the ground many
times this is in well travel space that we cut the grass, trim,
and play. The insects usually will not attack until their
numbers have reached the point they can afford losses and the
colony "needs" protection. When they do attack they can attack
by the hundreds. They "smell" the chemical pheromones from the
stings of other attackers and you are "marked". |
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Cicada Killers |
| Very large brownish-black solitary wasp often near 2 inches
long. The female cicada killer burrows into the soil, locates a
cicada (often referred to as locust), paralyze it with a sting.
It is then placed into the burrow where an egg is deposited on
it. The burrow is sealed with soil or pebble. |
| The cicada is now food for the young Cicada Killers that
hatch. This process is repeated until she exhausts her egg
supply. They can be very bold, and scary when they dive at you,
but rarely sting |
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Some interesting info |
| Wasp are of course very beneficial to man from pollination
to the parasitic wasp that control many harmful insects. They also pose
a serious threat to many people from their stings. |
| Venomous Arthropods attack over 500,000 people each year. Most
people only have a mild reaction to the sting, however some people have
severe to fatal reactions. Approximately 30 deaths each year are
attributed to stings, however it is very likely the numbers are higher
because many are attributed to heat stroke, heart attack, and others.
Automobile crashes have occurred from bees getting into the vehicle and
the driver panics |
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Individuals that are very sensitive to insect strings
may consider desensitization treatments and carrying a sting kit. Your
doctor can give you more information. |
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Most of us fortunately can get relief from ice, a paste
of water and sodium of bicarbonate (baking soda) to the wound. Watch out
for any signs of anaphylactic shock (shortness of breath, sweating
heavily, dizziness, throat swelling, bad swelling at the site, and
others) and get help fast. |
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Call and our representative will be able to schedule a
service for you. |
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