We have a zillion red wasps here every year. Summer before last, I think I got stung every time I went outside. Last summer, I’m not sure I got stung any. This summer . . not too many stings but I was just out picking Seminole pumpkins. They’re on the ground and I didn’t notice all the wasps on a leaf, bent over to get a pumpkin and my arm touched the leaf. SEVEN stings – five on my arm and two on my fingers. Missouri has its share of bugs so I’m not expecting to live bite free there but I won’t miss the bugs, spiders and snakes of Texas. Even Addie said she was not coming back to Texas because of the wasps and spiders
I did pick seven more pumpkins and to cantaloupe. The stings have almost stopped hurting and I still have all this yummy food so I guess I shouldn’t complain but . . it did hurt for a few minutes. If I’d been paying a bit more attention, I probably would have noticed the wasps on the leaves. I was more worried about the grass burrs.
vivoaks says
Ouch!! I can’t imagine 7 stings at once!! I walked around the corner of the garage one afternoon years ago and a wasp flew right into my cheek…yes, they sting!! My brother stepped on a yellow-jacket nest one time as a kid – had more than 100 stings! Mom had to take him to the hospital for that one! Wow…the memories you bring up by mentioning wasps!!! Be careful out there!!
Rebecca says
It’s a good thing you’re not allergic! I can’t even imagine seven stings at once. Yuck
Teri says
I thought the same thing. I am so allergic I puff up just looking at one!
barbara woods says
looks so good!
Joyce says
I stepped on a yellow jacket nest a few years ago and got multiple stings! At the time, I felt sick from the venom, but not bad enough to need to go to the ER. A few days later, I ended up with cellulitis from the stings, so I did have to go to the doctor. Not fun! My doctor was out that day, and the one I saw looked at it, and said it looked painful…duh! 🙂
Joyce says
At least when a bee stings you, it’s “one and done”. Those wasps (and yellow jackets) just keep going…
Jane says
I have a friend who sells her personal home-made Itch Stick. It relieves the pain of chiggers and mosquitoes. I don’t know about wasps. I purchase her sticks for Christmas gifts for all my family.
Linda B. says
Hope you are feeling better. It sure does sound painful. Your pumpkins look delicious!
Nelle Coursey says
I do not like the stinging bees or wasps!! I was pulling weeds in the back yard and I guess I pulled up a bee with them. Before I could get it off me, it had stung me in the middle of my hand. I went inside and immediately put ammonia in my hand and left it there for a few minutes. The sting went away almost immediately and no pain. I did have an itch in my hand for several days but I think part of the stinger was in there. I finally got something out and it quit itching. Be very careful of these stings especially when it is so hot outside. They can make you very sick.
Sandi B says
I’m sure you have your own remedies, but I’ve always made a paste with baking soda and applied that. Usually by the time it dries and falls off, the itch, swelling, and pain are gone. Our childhood home was a very old farmhouse that had newspapers for insulation. The walls had wasps and yellow jackets. Sometimes they’d come out at night and attack while we slept. Ahhhh…the memories! (That was 50 years ago and the memories are still vivid!!)
Nancy Mahan says
I just read that WD-40 will stop stings. Don’t know if it’s true but worth a shot.
Betty Edwards says
We had a nightmare when huge red wasps (those big red ones) decided a good place for a permanent home to raise their young was just inside our stove vent. Every Spring at different times there would be wasps in the house. One or two was okay but when it was constant we began to investigate. It was then we discovered a nest about seven inches in diameter at the very top of the vent. It couldn’t be reached to knock down so we drowned it in Wasp spray and blocked off the vent. Well when the babies started coming they could break through the stove vent screen. Once we must have killed at least 100 or more dead ones after spraying.
We had to fight this every year until this year! We wrapped the opening with wire screen…this year none are inside!
Debbie says
Yikes! That’s a lot of stings!! I have a brown turkey fig tree that went gang busters this year. In truth it’s lackluster performance in last years was my fault I pruned at the wrong time one year and I didn’t give it much water other years. We all know both of those are cardinal sins with a fig tree. Anyway… it has fine so well this year but darn it, the ants were driving me crazy getting in the fruit. So I solved that using tanglefoot and then things got worse! The yellow jackets go inside the fruit and those darn big red wasps (big enough they should be required to purchase a license plate) are eating the fruit from the outside. It’s gotten downright hazardous to harvest. So I know what you mean judy, but 7 stings? Ouch! I had only one or two on the back of my hand through a garden glove and got cellulitis.