Let’s talk about yellow jackets…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im confused. Are they not pollinators and don’t they also kill mosquitoes? Why is everyone running to kill all of them

Because they are trying to kill YOU.

They’re not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im confused. Are they not pollinators and don’t they also kill mosquitoes? Why is everyone running to kill all of them

Because they are trying to kill YOU.

They’re not

Obviously, you haven't spent time in ER. Come back after you or your family member get that experience. Otherwise, you have no life experience to discuss this topic

[Anonymous]

I was just stung a few days ago, minding my own business on a walking path. The itching is absolutely horrid and the swelling seems to get worse every time I get stung. I have never had an anaphylactic reaction, but I feel like I’m heading in that direction.

Interesting tidbit from my exterminator — when you get them in your house, turn up the AC. They get lethargic in cooler temps and are easier to kill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just stung a few days ago, minding my own business on a walking path. The itching is absolutely horrid and the swelling seems to get worse every time I get stung. I have never had an anaphylactic reaction, but I feel like I’m heading in that direction.

Interesting tidbit from my exterminator — when you get them in your house, turn up the AC. They get lethargic in cooler temps and are easier to kill.

You need to carry an EpiPen.

[Anonymous]

Me and the dog got stung by some paper wasps the other day.
Darn mutt found them hidden under a railing and stuck her nose in the nest and poof, all kinna wasps swarming in our faces.

Dog drooled for a bit after stings on her tongue, but was ok by evening. Little baking soda paste and pinch of tobacco on a cotton ball taped on the stings and they were fine after a couple hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is 100% true.

I got stung probably a dozen or more times in my calf within about 15 seconds this past August while walking our dogs in rock creek park. We clearly passed close to a ground nest (obviously without realizing it) and they swarmed out. 3 or 4 landed on my calf and started stinging immediately. I didn’t even realize it at first, and then when I felt something. I looked down and saw them on my calf, and immediately slapped my hand down on them very hard, killing them, and saw them fall off smashed and dead when I removed my hand. As I was standing there bent over looking at my calf to see where I’d just been stung, 5-6 more landed right on the same spot in a second or two, and immediately started stinging! I swatted them too, killing a few and then took off running with the dogs in front of me. I went about a hundred feet down the trail and looked back at my leg and there were still 3-4 more on my leg still stinging me!


I’m not allergic to stings, but even then, my entire calf swelled up visibly and was hot and itchy for two days. Went to the Dr on Day 2, and she was very alarmed and had me do blood work for a possible blood clot. Apparently, DVT in the lower legs or compartment syndrome can both be triggered by severe insect stings. Blood work didn’t show any elevated clotting factors, and it was just a severe local reaction to so many stings in such a small area.

The thing about the pheromones is true. They zeroed in on that same spot on my calf three different times, the last time while I was running away.


They are awful creatures. I will go out of my way to kill them from now on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im confused. Are they not pollinators and don’t they also kill mosquitoes? Why is everyone running to kill all of them

Because they are trying to kill YOU.

They’re not

Obviously, you haven't spent time in ER. Come back after you or your family member get that experience. Otherwise, you have no life experience to discuss this topic

Trying to kill you implies intent. Hornets are generally being protective OR they are frightened when they "attack." They're not conversing with their broods and saying "that one right there. She looks sus, we should take her out."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im confused. Are they not pollinators and don’t they also kill mosquitoes? Why is everyone running to kill all of them

Because they are trying to kill YOU.

They’re not

Obviously, you haven't spent time in ER. Come back after you or your family member get that experience. Otherwise, you have no life experience to discuss this topic

Trying to kill you implies intent. Hornets are generally being protective OR they are frightened when they "attack." They're not conversing with their broods and saying "that one right there. She looks sus, we should take her out."

Oh brother. Here's today's "water is wet" wisdom statement.

[Anonymous]

To those of you whose lives have been saved by the ER docs: how long did it take you to recover physically and mentally from the shock? Have you started immunotherapy at the allergist’s office? What changes do you make in your gardening journey?

[Anonymous]

I didn’t have shock—just got stung twice—but I stopped gardening until after the first deep freeze 😭