Tell Me Something............Anything!

[Pigmy Pony]

What is the ecological purpose of wasps? They don't pollinate like bees, and what is worse they don't die after stinging you.

As Alex says, yes they do pollinate, and are very good at it (in Germany it is illegal to destroy wasps' nests except in certain circumstances, though I don't know how they enforce that one).

The adults also kill a lot of other insects, many of those being pest species, which they feed to the grubs, which in turn shit out sugars which the adults feed on. When all the grubs have become adults, the sugar source is then gone, and that's when the adults go foraging and become a real nuisance.

Then by the time colder weather returns, all the wasps die, but not before the queen gets knocked up and goes into hibernation. Then next spring it all starts again.

None of this detracts from the fact they are a right bunch of bastards.

[Barry]

You learn something new every day. Cheers.

[Macca]

As Alex says, yes they do pollinate, and are very good at it (in Germany it is illegal to destroy wasps' nests except in certain circumstances, though I don't know how they enforce that one).
.

They don't need to, zee Germans obey orders without question.

[Macca]

The adults also kill a lot of other insects, many of those being pest species, which they feed to the grubs, which in turn shit out sugars which the adults feed on. When all the grubs have become adults, the sugar source is then gone, and that's when the adults go foraging and become a real nuisance.

Then by the time colder weather returns, all the wasps die, but not before the queen gets knocked up and goes into hibernation. Then next spring it all starts again.

None of this detracts from the fact they are a right bunch of bastards.

You ought to be on the telly presenting wildlife programs, I can just imagine that as the voice-over on a 'Springwatch' wasp special.

[Pigmy Pony]

what is worse they don't die after stinging you.

If a wasp stings me it's going to die all right, oh yes, it will die. I've found that a verbal warning tends to keep them away, but the problem now is the recent influx of foreign wasps coming over on small boats. It's the language barrier I think.

My wasp exterminator guy said he will be here in the morning, so I won't be going anywhere. It could be interesting

[Macca]

You have to ask him if he knows Sting.

[Pigmy Pony]

Yeah, I'm not doing that, it might piss him off and I don't want to risk him spraying them with some psychoactive substance just for the fun of it then leaving. Which has led me to wonder if scientists have ever studied the effects of something like LSD on wasps? I bet they have, there can't be many things in the world that haven't been tried.

I once saw an exterminator guy across from the house I was working on, and I asked him (from a safe distance) if he ever got stung. All the time, was his reply. Which I thought was a bit unprofessional. I hope that's the bloke I'll be getting tomorrow

[Alex_UK]

Cheers Steve, I will see how it goes! Often these minor ailments do sort themselves out, and Dr. Google doesn’t suggest it will bring about my imminent demise. Unless of course I don’t hear the number 8 bus as I am crossing the road.

In case anyone was worried ( ) my ears sorted themselves out after a couple of weeks, thank goodness.

My newest ailment seems to be insect bites - or rather a nasty allergic reaction to them which I have never had before. Got bitten on the knee on Sunday, which then swelled up like a football (slight exaggeration) and then last night on my toe, which now looks like a sausage (again, slight exaggeration although they were fairly sausage-like to begin with.) The knee has settled down after 3 days of Piriton but the toe is agony and really, really itchy! Must not scratch... must not scratch...

[Pigmy Pony]

You have my sympathies Alex, I've some idea what that's like. As you live in a rural area and take lots of walks the chances are they are horseflies. They are nasty little shits, sneaky and relentless. They're quite slow, but even when you swat them away they keep coming back. They are also pretty soft landing, meaning you may not notice them till they've bitten you.

Their bites are nothing like say, a mosquito, which inserts a narrow tube to suck up the blood - rather they cut your skin with jaws like scissors then lap up the blood. Reactions to this can be pretty extreme, and last for many days, even becoming infected sometimes.

Their jaws are designed to get through a horse's or cow's hide, so they have no problem with light summer clothing. The only defence I think is to keep covered with loose clothing, and be vigilant.



A horsefly lying in wait for a passing human leg

Some more info:

https://www.horseflytrap.co.uk/about-horseflies/

[Alex_UK]

Thanks Steve, I think you might be right, I have a couple of bites on my calf and they are just the "normal" midge bites and haven't flared up like the other two. At least with the weather being crap tonight I am not out in the garden being something's supper!