Wasps, Insects and Pollination

Wasps are bad news for us. They can be a nuisance to our homes and outdoor leisure activities. When they perceive us as a threat to themselves or especially to their nests they can cause us pain by stinging us. Only the females are endowed with the capacity to deliver stings.

When they sting us, the sting can be fatal to for a minority of individuals unfortunate to react to the venom with anaphylactic shock. As has been highlighted previously on the Key West blog, wasps are carnivorous. Consequently, they do not present themselves as a nuisance to us for the most part of the summer. Wasps do, however, over the course of their lifecycle become addicted to a sweet secretion that is exuded by the growing grubs on which they feed. In August when the grubs have grown to adulthood this sweet secretion ceases to be available. In the absence of this sweet treat, they turn their attention to our picnics and dining tables. Thus they become an annoying nuisance to us, potentially spreading disease to us by transmitting it from dirty locations in which they have previously been feeding, to our food.

And yes, they are indeed a threat to human life – consider that the poison in their stingers can cause anaphylactic shock in some people. If the circumstances are unfortunate, and swift action is not taken, an individual’s breathing faculties can become swollen such that they are unable to continue the essential process of respiration.

Wasps look like bees, but are generally not covered with fuzzy hairs. Consequently, they are much less efficient in pollinating flowers. This is because pollen is less likely to stick to their bodies and to be moved from flower to flower.

Here are some facts for you to digest about pollination:

Did you know that 1500 species of insects pollinate plants in the UK? These pollinators include our friends the bumble bees, honey bees and solitary bees. They also include hoverflies, flies, beetles, butterflies and moths.

Did you know that 25 species of bumble bee, 260 species of solitary bee, 1 honey bee species and hundreds of different types of butterfly, moth and hoverfly inhabit the UK?

Did you know that 70 of the 100 crop species providing 90% of food on a global scale are pollinated by bees?

Did you know that the value of insect pollination to crops owing to increases in the yield and quality of seeds and fruit is estimated to be £600 million.

It imperative that we protect our pollinators – they are vital to our all we know and the continuation of the human species. Defra, or the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is well aware of these facts. Indeed, they make five recommendations that UK citizens – families, gardeners, farmers, developers, land owners, local authorities -  can play their part in effecting, however small or large that part is.

      (1)    Grow more shrubs, trees and plants   

      (2)    Leave patches of land to grow wild

      (3)    Cut grass and mow lawns less frequently

      (4)    Don’t disturb insect nests and hibernation locations

      (5)    Think very carefully before using pesticides

Wasps and Anaphylaxis

Wasps have their uses (believe it or not). They can be of use around the gardens of our commercial and domestic premises as consumers of flies and dead insects. In as far as they relate to us, however, they can be a real nuisance. Aside of the pain caused by the stinging, their persistent nature can be a real irritation and threat to those individuals who have the misfortune to be allergic to their sting. If you are stung in the neck or in the mouth, or, indeed, if you experience nausea, giddiness, unusual swelling or extreme pain following being stung you must immediately seek medical assistance.

We are all aware, especially those of you who have been paying attention to the Key West blog, that wasps can sting multiple times without dying. Did you know, however, that the venom in wasps contains a pheromone the makes other wasps more aggressive? Bear this in mind if you are tempted to swat a wasp within close proximity of other wasps, or its nest. In other words: don’t do it.

For the majority of people a wasp sting should wear off within 24 hours. For a small minority the venom in wasp stings causes anaphylactic shock. This can be fatal.

What can cause anaphylactic shock?

Certain foods will cause anaphylactic shock in some people. These include: peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, eggs and dairy products.

Other non-food causes include: natural latex (rubber), penicillin and other drugs and injections, and the stings of bees and wasps.

For some people, physical exercise can trigger an anaphylactic reaction, in some cases simply by itself; in other cases when it is done in conjunction with another cause such as foods or drugs such as aspirin.

The symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include the following:

1 (1) A sense of impending doom

2(2) Swelling of the throat and mouth

3(3) Alterations in heart rate

4(3) Flushing of the skin generally over the body

5(4) Hives anywhere on the body (this is similar in appearance to nettle rash)

6(5) Difficulty in speaking and swallowing

7(5) A sharp decrease in blood pressure (in this case the patient would experience a sudden feeling of    weakness)

8(6)  Severe asthma

9(7) Abdominal pain 

  (8) Nausea and vomiting

1(9) Collapsing and unconsciousness

Not all symptoms might be present in the same episode of anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis occurs, as with any allergic reaction (although anaphylaxis is the most extreme), because the immune system reacts disproportionately in response to the presence of a substance. The body’s immune system is incorrectly perceiving such substances as a threat.

The symptoms of anaphylaxis are the result of a sudden release of chemical substances, which include histamine, from cells found in the blood and stored within tissues. Such a release is engendered by an interaction between the allergic antibody Immunoglobin and the falsely offending substance (allergen), which includes wasp venom. This immunising defence is very sensitive and even extremely small quantities of the allergen can cause a reaction. When the reaction has been triggered by an allergen the released chemicals act on the blood vessels, causing swelling. For people with asthma, the reaction is mainly located in the lungs. A fall in blood pressure may be experienced.

For people who are known to experience a severe reaction, adrenaline auto-injectors are prescribed. Adrenaline, or epinephrine, acts swiftly to constrict blood vessels and relax smooth muscles in the lungs to help improve breathing. The adrenaline will also help stimulate the heartbeat and help to stop swelling around the face and lips.

Who is at risk from anaphylaxis?

If an individual has experienced a serious allergic reaction in the past, then no matter what the cause was, future reactions are probably going to be severe. If a tiny dose of an offending substance causes a significant reaction, or if a reaction has occurred between such a substance when in contact with the skin, this is an indication that a larger dose might well trigger a severe reaction. If an individual has asthma or other allergies it is important that they see an allergy specialist – asthma puts an individual in a higher risk category. If you believe that you have an allergy, see your GP. If there is a chance that your allergy is severe, the GP should refer you to an allergy clinic.

Bear all of this in mind when you are dealing with wasps. The main points to take away are: (1) if you swat a wasp near other wasps, others will follow (don’t do it); (2) if you have experienced bad allergic reactions in the past, you may be vulnerable to wasp stings and might react with anaphylactic shock; (3) anaphylactic shock can be fatal; (4) if you suspect you have an allergy, see you GP.

August is the Time for Wasps

It is the glorious month of August. The summer flowers are in full bloom and the deciduous trees are lush and in full leaf. Children and young people are free to engage in leisure as the summer holiday continues with endless days of high-jinx and wonder. The long break from school presents the opportunity for family days out, which in turn enables the forging of pleasant memories to be cherished. August is, of course, the eighth month of year between July and September in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. For those born in this month, the birthstones are the peridot and sardonyx. The Western Zodiac signs for the month of August are Leo and Virgo. The birth flower of August is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning, rather appropriately, beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family. Family days out with picnics on which to feast are an attractive prospect. The reality is, however, that the consumption of foodstuffs outdoors and in open spaces are activities that tend to draw the presence of wasps. Why, then, do they become such a nuisance in August?

Looking broadly at the lifecycle of wasps, we know that they are active from spring when the hibernating queens awaken and emerge to construct small nests and lay eggs in order to create the first workers. Here, the wasps differ from the bees – in their case the entire colony more or less hibernates. The dissimilarity does not end there: unlike bees, wasps are carnivorous. Consequently, they do not present themselves as a nuisance to us for the most part of the summer. Wasps do, however, over the course of their lifecycle become addicted to a sweet secretion that is exuded by growing grubs. It is roughly in the month of August when the grubs have grown to adulthood that this sweet secretion ceases to be available. In the absence of this sweet treat, they turn their attention to our picnics and dining tables. Thus they become an annoying nuisance to us, potentially spreading disease to us by transmitting it from dirty locations in which they have previously been feeding, to our food. They are also a threat to human life – consider that the poison in their stingers can cause anaphylactic shock in some people. If the circumstances are unfortunate, and swift action is not taken, an individual’s means of respiration faculties can become swollen such that they are unable to breathe.

A method for discouraging the bombardment of your summer dining and picnics by wasps presents itself when you are first disturbed by a loan wasp. If a loan wasp discovers that you have foodstuffs favourable to itself, the behavioural tendency is to return to the nest to communicate the location of you and your food to the other wasps. You might then experience an inundation of wasp activity. If, however, you are able to isolate the loan wasp and trap it in a container from which it cannot escape, you will reduce the likelihood of other wasps following in its flight path.

In as far as your domestic and commercial premises are concerned, the earlier a nest is given treatment, the better – as the summer progresses the number of wasps increases and they become more aggressive. If you suspect an infestation in your commercial or domestic premises you can locate the nest by being diligent and watching the flight path of wasps as they return to your buildings. Given that the number of wasps within a nest increases throughout the summer, such vigilance is more easily rewarded the further into the summer you are.

Prevention is always better than the cure in the case of a wasp nest and in pest control generally speaking. Certain measures can be taken to reduce the risk of a wasp problem. Altering habits in relation to the handling of food and drink can assist in the reduction of risk. Make sure that you check for nests. In the early spring, check in those place mentioned earlier – sheds, garages, under eaves, bird boxes, roof spaces, wall cavities – for the nest in its infancy: it will be around the size of a golf ball. The earlier, the better. Make sure that windows and doors are shut – it is a common misconception that during warm, or even hot, weather an open window will cool down your commercial or domestic premises. This just lets warm air into the building and increases the internal temperature. Make sure that your rubbish bins have tightly fitting lids, and keep the bins a good distance from doors and windows if you are able – wasps are often attracted to the contents of rubbish bins. If you have spotted and located a nest, keep children and domesticated animals away from the area.

While the detection of high numbers of wasps in your commercial or domestic premises may mean that a wasp nest is nearby, the removal of the nest might not be feasible. Nests found in confined, restricted and difficult-to-reach locations will be more difficult to treat. If the wasp nest is not located on your own property, your control over the situation is limited. If you do suspect the presence of a wasp nest in your commercial or domestic premises, and it is a real cause of concern, call Key West Pest Control – we will advise on the best course of action, and if professional intervention is required, we have the relevant, certified expertise to act appropriately.