Let’s talk about yellow jackets…

[Anonymous]

So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I am one of the posters. I think there are more people allergic to bees than you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how are you supposed to find them before you get attacked and can die from it?

I had no idea I would encounter a nest in my backyard. Did know nothing about these insects until they followed me around while I as running away, had a violent allergic response and almost died on the way to the hospital. I’m grateful to be here, advising you to wear protective clothing that covers your whole body. Be vigilant.

Can't they sting through clothing? I'm glad you are here too. I'm allergic to bee stings too and have almost died twice when I was younger and now while I'd love to do yard work as a hobby I'm way too afraid. It sucks. I don't think you can see the nests until it’s too late.

They can’t sting through clothes as long as you wear thick fabrics under a light colored apiculturist suit with head coverage. It’s very uncomfortable during the growing season. I’ve never been afraid of gardening wearing shorts and t-shirts until now. If you’ve been stung by a bee or a common wasp, and the area of the body was swollen, you’ll most likely will have an anaphylactic shock next time. It happened to me. I’ve been gardening for over 20 years.

Just remember to avoid wearing dark and vivid colored clothing when you go out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I am one of the posters. I think there are more people allergic to bees than you think.

This is why it’s important to have a meaningful discussion about this topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh for goodness sake. We have yellowjackets every summer. Last year by our trash cans and compost bin and this year under our deck. THey were all over and no one was ever stung, human or pet.

The "aggressiveness" is largely overstated unless you're going after their nest. I'm not saying there are not times when they have to go but, ime, just leave them be. Why must we kill everything?

Yellow jackets can kill people

They are aggressive.

If they sting you once, they will release a pheremon in you that tells all their friends that you are a threat that needs to be attacked and stung again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I am one of the posters. I think there are more people allergic to bees than you think.

I am allergic, and one of my kids had anaphylaxis from a yellow jacket sting. They tested off the charts for yellow jackets, wasps and multiple hornets (but no allergies to bees) went through a 5 year venom immunotherapy treatment for five years, and are supposedly now immune to stings. Of course, we never want to test it.

The younger sibling was stung multiple times by a swarm of wasps,,and barely had a mark 10 minutes later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I am one of the posters. I think there are more people allergic to bees than you think.

I am allergic, and one of my kids had anaphylaxis from a yellow jacket sting. They tested off the charts for yellow jackets, wasps and multiple hornets (but no allergies to bees) went through a 5 year venom immunotherapy treatment for five years, and are supposedly now immune to stings. Of course, we never want to test it.

The younger sibling was stung multiple times by a swarm of wasps,,and barely had a mark 10 minutes later.

May I ask you how did you feel during the immunotherapy? Did you have anaphylaxis after the injections?
I was offered immunotherapy, but declined it because I’m still traumatized from the anaphylactic shock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I think a lot of people get stung, get a red, itchy, and painful lump that takes several days to go away, and think that they are allergic. That is what is supposed to happen. They have no idea what it really means to be allergic. I know this because I have a child who is truly allergic, and when I mention this to others such as about using epipens, etc., some will say "oh, I'm allergic, too. Last summer I got stung on my arm and it swelled and was itchy for days."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I am one of the posters. I think there are more people allergic to bees than you think.

I'm also very allergic. It's a very common allergy and ignorant to think otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I think a lot of people get stung, get a red, itchy, and painful lump that takes several days to go away, and think that they are allergic. That is what is supposed to happen. They have no idea what it really means to be allergic. I know this because I have a child who is truly allergic, and when I mention this to others such as about using epipens, etc., some will say "oh, I'm allergic, too. Last summer I got stung on my arm and it swelled and was itchy for days."

Can’t breathe allergic enough for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I think a lot of people get stung, get a red, itchy, and painful lump that takes several days to go away, and think that they are allergic. That is what is supposed to happen. They have no idea what it really means to be allergic. I know this because I have a child who is truly allergic, and when I mention this to others such as about using epipens, etc., some will say "oh, I'm allergic, too. Last summer I got stung on my arm and it swelled and was itchy for days."

The first time you are stung is an itch and swelling. The second, you’ll have more symptoms. If you are stung for a third time, you’ll need to rush to the ER if your sting starts swelling, your eyes turn red, and your breathing is turning difficult. That’s the beginning of an anaphylactic shock. The sting can be deadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I think a lot of people get stung, get a red, itchy, and painful lump that takes several days to go away, and think that they are allergic. That is what is supposed to happen. They have no idea what it really means to be allergic. I know this because I have a child who is truly allergic, and when I mention this to others such as about using epipens, etc., some will say "oh, I'm allergic, too. Last summer I got stung on my arm and it swelled and was itchy for days."

The first time you are stung is an itch and swelling. The second, you’ll have more symptoms. If you are stung for a third time, you’ll need to rush to the ER if your sting starts swelling, your eyes turn red, and your breathing is turning difficult. That’s the beginning of an anaphylactic shock. The sting can be deadly.

I've had a few stings this summer, each progressively worse and requiring trips to urgent care where they gave me a steroid shot near the site. I didn't have breathing problems, thankfully, do hopefully not a deadly reaction, just very rapid swelling and almost immediate rash. I'm scared to get stung again to test it.

There are yellowjackets all throughout my lawn and other lawns in the neighborhood. Neighbors also say they've never seen them this bad. I have no idea where to find the nest. I've tried observing individuals during the day but they just hover above the lawn and in the garden beds for a long time. I never see them retreat anywhere.

How do I find where they're nesting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They live in a hole in the ground. If you can see the hole, go out after sunset and empty a half-can (or more) of wasp killer into the hole. You'll never see a yellowjacket come out of that hole again. To find the hole in the dark, place something like a lawn chair or kid's toy near the hole during daylight so you can find it later.

This. I got stung while just walking through my yard. Saw where it was coming from and left a stick next to it. Bought a spray for under $10 and went back at night to spray. A couple of those suckers survived so I sprayed again a few days later and that was the end of it.

I love bees and plant all the good pollinator flowers for them. But these guys are just mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I think a lot of people get stung, get a red, itchy, and painful lump that takes several days to go away, and think that they are allergic. That is what is supposed to happen. They have no idea what it really means to be allergic. I know this because I have a child who is truly allergic, and when I mention this to others such as about using epipens, etc., some will say "oh, I'm allergic, too. Last summer I got stung on my arm and it swelled and was itchy for days."

The first time you are stung is an itch and swelling. The second, you’ll have more symptoms. If you are stung for a third time, you’ll need to rush to the ER if your sting starts swelling, your eyes turn red, and your breathing is turning difficult. That’s the beginning of an anaphylactic shock. The sting can be deadly.

I've had a few stings this summer, each progressively worse and requiring trips to urgent care where they gave me a steroid shot near the site. I didn't have breathing problems, thankfully, do hopefully not a deadly reaction, just very rapid swelling and almost immediate rash. I'm scared to get stung again to test it.

There are yellowjackets all throughout my lawn and other lawns in the neighborhood. Neighbors also say they've never seen them this bad. I have no idea where to find the nest. I've tried observing individuals during the day but they just hover above the lawn and in the garden beds for a long time. I never see them retreat anywhere.

How do I find where they're nesting?

I am no yellow jacket expert but this is what i have done. i think it's kind of late for this year but next summer, walk around your yard/garden and look for areas where you see active bee activities. for me, it was near outside AC/cable lines. it wasn't too hard to find it. Then you get out real early in the morning with spray and empty the can. then do it again a few days later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So odd that so many different people in a small thread on a small forum are allergic with lifethreatening allergies to wasps. Or is it all the same person?

I think a lot of people get stung, get a red, itchy, and painful lump that takes several days to go away, and think that they are allergic. That is what is supposed to happen. They have no idea what it really means to be allergic. I know this because I have a child who is truly allergic, and when I mention this to others such as about using epipens, etc., some will say "oh, I'm allergic, too. Last summer I got stung on my arm and it swelled and was itchy for days."

The first time you are stung is an itch and swelling. The second, you’ll have more symptoms. If you are stung for a third time, you’ll need to rush to the ER if your sting starts swelling, your eyes turn red, and your breathing is turning difficult. That’s the beginning of an anaphylactic shock. The sting can be deadly.

I've had a few stings this summer, each progressively worse and requiring trips to urgent care where they gave me a steroid shot near the site. I didn't have breathing problems, thankfully, do hopefully not a deadly reaction, just very rapid swelling and almost immediate rash. I'm scared to get stung again to test it.

There are yellowjackets all throughout my lawn and other lawns in the neighborhood. Neighbors also say they've never seen them this bad. I have no idea where to find the nest. I've tried observing individuals during the day but they just hover above the lawn and in the garden beds for a long time. I never see them retreat anywhere.

How do I find where they're nesting?

I am no yellow jacket expert but this is what i have done. i think it's kind of late for this year but next summer, walk around your yard/garden and look for areas where you see active bee activities. for me, it was near outside AC/cable lines. it wasn't too hard to find it. Then you get out real early in the morning with spray and empty the can. then do it again a few days later.

Remember to protect your whole body before going out to inspect and spray. These sh* ty insects get very aggressive and follow you around to make sure you get their venom.