Wasp

[henchy3rd]

Could this be a 1st for the year, bit early?
Central uk.
A male common wasp(vespula vulgaris)just gave him some sugar water & he’s really picked up really nice.

 

[Toddy]

I didn't know the males over-Wintered. I thought it was just the pregnant queens.

There you go, learn something new

 

[Tony]

I had a wasp on my living room floor the other day, it seemed a bit worse for wear, no idea how it got there, maybe off the firewood... It was a big old thing though...

 

[slowworm]

I didn't know the males over-Wintered. I thought it was just the pregnant queens.

There you go, learn something new

I think it is a queen, as you say it is only the queens that overwinter.

They often overwinter in logs stores and half wake up when you bring logs into the warm. We get a dozen or so a year.

 

[Broch]

Beautiful and fascinating little beasts. I love them despite the fact I have an allergic reaction to their sting.

 

[Tony]

Yeah, I've no problem with them, rather a load of wasps that midges that's for sure and I'd take 10/1 on wasps vs horseflies

 

[henchy3rd]

Now I can see in day light, I do believe it’s a queen wasp.
Time to let it go, just hopes she finds a home as it’s freezing outside.

 

[henchy3rd]

Yeah, I've no problem with them, rather a load of wasps that midges that's for sure and I'd take 10/1 on wasps vs horseflies

Midges spoiled my holiday in Scotland.. I literally went insane?

 

[Toddy]

Midgies are hellish things, but to be honest, I think clegs are worse.

We had a hummingbird moth in the garden a few years ago (the forage on the Lady's Bedstraw I gror for the dye from the roots) and I thought it was dying. It was going absolutely bananas buzzing around on it's back on the gravel and the woodchips under the Rowan.
This moth is the size of a blue tit for scale comparison.
Himself came out and took a few photos. It was only when we put them up on the computer screen that we spotted the wasp that was stinging the moth for all it was worth.

 

[henchy3rd]

Midgies are hellish things, but to be honest, I think clegs are worse.

We had a hummingbird moth in the garden a few years ago (the forage on the Lady's Bedstraw I gror for the dye from the roots) and I thought it was dying. It was going absolutely bananas buzzing around on it's back on the gravel and the woodchips under the Rowan.
This moth is the size of a blue tit for scale comparison.
Himself came out and took a few photos. It was only when we put them up on the computer screen that we spotted the wasp that was stinging the moth for all it was worth.

View attachment 64252View attachment 64252

I recall someone mentioning cleggs but never gave it a though..
what are they?

 

[Toddy]

Horseflies. They have very dirty bites and they hurt when they chew a bit out of you.

The photograph isn't terribly clear because the wings are just a blur as the hummingbird hawk moth frantically tried to free itself from the wasp, but those are paver bricks it's beside.

 

[tombear]

We had one in the Shed start of last week, evidentally the previously mild winter has messed up the queens hibernation cycle so it emerged early. Most likely the ones that have come out early will starve before their main sources of food become available.

Atb

Tom

 

[henchy3rd]

Horseflies. They have very dirty bites and they hurt when they chew a bit out of you.

The photograph isn't terribly clear because the wings are just a blur as the hummingbird hawk moth frantically tried to free itself from the wasp, but those are paver bricks it's beside.

Nasty little bite on them..I think they have a slicing action mouth parts like the pesty midge does.(no see ums).
I balloon up where I get bit by them?

 

[Toddy]

Me too
I carry an epi pen because of the blighters.

 

[henchy3rd]

Me too
I carry an epi pen because of the blighters.

They took mine off me (I’m allergic to certain nuts & I’m asthmatic)they said my throat would close up & I’d probably die if I used it again?..
there really is no hope for me then??

 

[Toddy]

I think that sounds ridiculous if not criminal.

How many did you use ?

Thankfully I have never had to use mine. I know that if I present at hospital with anaphylactic shock they'll try antihistamines first, and only if nothing eases will they administer the epi pen.

Mostly I manage fine using anti histamines and an anti inflammatory.

Doesn't stop it hurting, itching like fireants or swelling up like a balloon, but it keeps on top of it.

M

 

[Broch]

That's what a wasp sting does to me. If I'm stung on the hand it looks like a marigold glove that you've blown air into

 

[henchy3rd]

I think that sounds ridiculous if not criminal.

How many did you use ?

Thankfully I have never had to use mine. I know that if I present at hospital with anaphylactic shock they'll try antihistamines first, and only if nothing eases will they administer the epi pen.

Mostly I manage fine using anti histamines and an anti inflammatory.

Doesn't stop it hurting, itching like fireants or swelling up like a balloon, but it keeps on top of it.

M

I used it once when I had a weak chocolate bar moment, it had peanuts in it? pollen count was through the roof as well so my Asthma was bad.
My ex wife is a nurse so she had to chance it & jabbed it in my neck..don’t think she liked me? then rushed to hospital.
Never again?

 

[Toddy]

That's what a wasp sting does to me. If I'm stung on the hand it looks like a marigold glove that you've blown air into

That's it....and then it starts leaking fluid through the overstretched skin. It's horrible, it can totally immobilise a joint. I was bitten right behind my knee, and you can imagine the result.

Weeding under the willows I didn't see the cleg, but I was bitten on my throat. That one was kind of scary. My heart fluttered like a bird trapped in my chest and I could feel my throat start to swell up inside.
I really wondered if I was going to need the epi pen that time, but the antihistamine and 600mg ibuprofen knocked it back enough to settle it down a bit.

I used it once when I had a weak chocolate bar moment, it had peanuts in it? pollen count was through the roof as well so my Asthma was bad.
My ex wife is a nurse so she had to chance it & jabbed it in my neck..don’t think she liked me? then rushed to hospital.
Never again?

Your neck ??? It's supposed to go into a major muscle, like the thigh.
I think I'd be keeping my epi pen well out of her reach, tbh.

I hope you never need another one.

M

 

[henchy3rd]

That's it....and then it starts leaking fluid through the overstretched skin. It's horrible, it can totally immobilise a joint. I was bitten right behind my knee, and you can imagine the result.

Weeding under the willows I didn't see the cleg, but I was bitten on my throat. That one was kind of scary. My heart fluttered like a bird trapped in my chest and I could feel my throat start to swell up inside.
I really wondered if I was going to need the epi pen that time, but the antihistamine and 600mg ibuprofen knocked it back enough to settle it down a bit.


Your neck ??? It's supposed to go into a major muscle, like the thigh.
I think I'd be keeping my epi pen well out of her reach, tbh.

I hope you never need another one.

What ever the reason, it worked & I’m thankful.

like you, in the summer months I live on antihistamines. who ever thought that pollen could make you look like you’ve been a couple of rounds with Tyson Fury