"Michael Saunby" wrote in message
...

For those that want to try the experimental method of working out what you
have by how much the sting hurts - wasp stings hurt a little (rather more
than a nettle) and a bee sting hurts like hell and the sting is left
behind
with the venom sack still pumping. Not sure what a hornet sting is like,
probably like a wasp.

Children, don't try this at home if you are susceptible to strong histamine
reactions...

I had a wasp fly into my helmet as I was riding down the road at 70 mph. It
landed on the inside of my visor. I guessed if I slammed the brakes on, it
could get onto my face, ditto with opening up the visor. So I gently slowed
down, parked and then persuaded it out of the helmet without it stinging me.

- h

"H" wrote in message
...
I had a wasp fly into my helmet as I was riding down the road at 70 mph.
It
landed on the inside of my visor. I guessed if I slammed the brakes on, it
could get onto my face, ditto with opening up the visor. So I gently
slowed
down, parked and then persuaded it out of the helmet without it stinging
me.

Wow. well done. I think I would have driven up the side of the first
building

O

Wow. well done.

I think it actually knocked it's head on the way in as I could see it more
or less shaking it's head when it landed. It looked quite groggy,
thankfully.

Best,

- h

Malcolm wrote:

In article , geoff
writes
snip. . . . . . inspecting my bed carefully
before going outside again. I don't think she was eating it, so I'm not
expecting to find a blue cotton wasps nest anywhere, but I don't know
what the fascination was.
Serena

Wasps will bite off bits of wood from posts and fallen trees to turn into
paper mache for their combs . . . but a BED POST??!!

Perhaps it was after the chewing gum(1) !

(1) Showing my age....

It doesn't lose its flavour the way it used to :-)

regards
sarah


--
"Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view,
is silence about truth." Aldous Huxley

"Martin Rand" wrote in message
...

"Michael Saunby" wrote in message
...

For those that want to try the experimental method of working out what
you
have by how much the sting hurts - wasp stings hurt a little (rather
more
than a nettle) and a bee sting hurts like hell and the sting is left
behind
with the venom sack still pumping. Not sure what a hornet sting is
like,
probably like a wasp.

Children, don't try this at home if you are susceptible to strong
histamine
reactions...


Probably not a good idea to try it anywhere. Though there was a chap on
the TV - tough American military guy - who allowed himself to be stung by a
variety of things. Hardly a big deal I'd have thought for a healthy adult.
After all these are small creatures that don't dine on humans and the
stings have evolved to do no more that drive you away. The really neat
trick would be to raid a wild bees nest with no protection - that really
would hurt. Though if they're anything like domesticated bees if you took
your time and moved very slowly it should be doable - again, don't try this
at home children (of any age).

But back to the wasp question. Has anyone actually seen any wasps, other
than queens, so far this year? I haven't but I'm prepared to believe it
might just be possible.

Michael Saunby

But back to the wasp question. Has anyone actually seen any wasps, other
than queens, so far this year? I haven't but I'm prepared to believe it
might just be possible.

I have ... but you don't seem to want to believe me ;-(

Maybe I shall sit out by my pond and take a photo of them when they come
flying in...

Best,

- h

"Michael wrote in message ...

For those that want to try the experimental method of working out what you
have by how much the sting hurts - wasp stings hurt a little (rather more
than a nettle) and a bee sting hurts like hell and the sting is left
behind
with the venom sack still pumping. Not sure what a hornet sting is like,
probably like a wasp.

Ah! But you forgot to mention that Wasps can sting more than once and often
do. As someone who fell off his motorbike because a Wasp went down the front
of my shirt and proceeded to sting me right across my chest this multiplies
the pain I can assure you. :-) (so did falling off the bike!)

Bee sting pain lasts longer though especially if you don't get that sting
out quickly.

--
Bob

www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in
Runnymede fighting for it's existence.

"Michael wrote in message

But back to the wasp question. Has anyone actually seen any wasps, other
than queens, so far this year? I haven't but I'm prepared to believe it
might just be possible.


We had one in our bedroom this morning which I waved out of the window,
looked like a normal everyday Wasp to me. Also saw some down on the
allotments about a week ago on the compost heap, couldn't believe it, seems
so early.

--
Bob

www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in
Runnymede fighting for it's existence.

Following up to Michael Saunby

But back to the wasp question. Has anyone actually seen any wasps, other
than queens, so far this year? I haven't but I'm prepared to believe it
might just be possible.

only queens here, missed the last one with my hoe :-(
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
London & the British hills "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk"
Spain, food and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" (see web for email)

"H" wrote in message
...
But back to the wasp question. Has anyone actually seen any wasps,
other
than queens, so far this year? I haven't but I'm prepared to believe
it
might just be possible.

I have ... but you don't seem to want to believe me ;-(

Maybe I shall sit out by my pond and take a photo of them when they come
flying in...


And you're confident that you can tell the difference between wasps and
honey bees? 'Cos it strikes me that if some folks are already killing what
they believe to be wasps, then they might actually be killing beneficial
pollinators - rather daft for gardeners.

Can any wasp experts say if wasps have much need for water at present?
Bees do, since they may well still be living on last years stores, which
requires water to get it back to liquid form.

Michael Saunby

"H" wrote in message
...
But back to the wasp question. Has anyone actually seen any wasps,
other
than queens, so far this year? I haven't but I'm prepared to believe
it
might just be possible.

I have ... but you don't seem to want to believe me ;-(

Maybe I shall sit out by my pond and take a photo of them when they come
flying in...

I believe you

O

Following up to Michael Saunby

Can any wasp experts say if wasps have much need for water at present?

As they are making paper from wood with the addition of saliva, surely
they must need water once nest building?

My insect book says a wasps nest may contain 20,000 individuals all
raised on insects "many of them harmful" so dont kill the queens in
spring. Thats what my book says.
I say "**** the little vespa b*******"!
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
London & the British hills "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk"
Spain, food and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" (see web for email)

And you're confident that you can tell the difference between wasps and
honey bees?

Yup.... Having had my hands in many a bee hive, I think I can recognise them
by now ;-)

'Cos it strikes me that if some folks are already killing what
they believe to be wasps, then they might actually be killing beneficial
pollinators - rather daft for gardeners.

Absolutely. However, wasps are also *good* for the garden, cleaning up plant
pests such as aphids as well as dead wood, and plant matter. So why kill any
of them if they aren't harming us?

Can any wasp experts say if wasps have much need for water at present?

Well, according to www.jungleformula.co.uk, the people who do the
anti-midge/wasp stuff, wasps in the UK are out looking for water, meat and
wood pulp from April to mid August.

Best,

- h

Xref: news7 uk.rec.gardening:137363 uk.rec.natural-history:13937


"The Reid" wrote in message
...
Following up to Michael Saunby

Can any wasp experts say if wasps have much need for water at present?

As they are making paper from wood with the addition of saliva, surely
they must need water once nest building?

My insect book says a wasps nest may contain 20,000 individuals all
raised on insects "many of them harmful" so dont kill the queens in
spring. Thats what my book says.
I say "**** the little vespa b*******"!

MIke you're a hard man!!! I wonder..did you mean 'swat'?

O