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Date: 21 Sep 2006 16:28:22
From: Robert Grumbine
Subject: Waspy time of year
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I recently had a bad encounter with a wasp while running.
Since I'm probably not the only one who is allergic to wasps,
and it's the time of year for wasps to be a problem, I'll pass
on a few notes from a hymenopterist friend and my MD.
I'm going to continue trail running, but be a little more judicious
about when and where.
* From here to about ober, the wasps are old (senile) and likely
to be drunk (rotten fruit on the ground). Consequently, the usual
rules about 'if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone' don't
apply. They may well nail you because you look like dinner, or
you made them detour on their way home, or they're just drunk and mean.
* The other time of year to watch is about April, as the queens are
trying to establish their nests/colonies. (I was nailed once while
walking well away from any nest one April.)
* If you are stung, baking soda paste or a freshly cut onion put on
the site are good for reducing effects.
* If you're stung and are moderately allergic (as I am) then you
want to apply a topical like Benadryl and take some antihistamine
internally as well. (The swelling etc., are because of your
body's histamine response, and histamine in the venom itself.)
* Ice on the affected area may be a good idea or irrelevant; I do it
myself.
* If you're stung and are severely allergic, you need an epinephrine
pen with you at the time (you have only a few minutes before anaphalaxis
shuts down your breathing).
* You can progress from moderately** to severely allergic on the next
sting. (Hence I now have such a pen and will be carrying it with me
when I'm in wasp-friendly areas.) Or the next time out you may have
no more reaction than an ordinary person. This allergy doesn't
necessarily get worse with time and may spontaneously clear. (One of
the things which makes MD life interesting.)
** Moderately allergic, my current status, means that you have pain for
longer than usual, and swelling down the entire limb. Since I was nailed
behind the knee, my entire lower leg swelled greatly (edema, as fluids
leaked out of capillaries). The swelling was down enough to wear
shoes and socks without annoyance about 5 days after the sting.
At moderately, you might also have some responses elsewhere, as I did
this time on my arm, with several swollen patches. If your breathing
is affected, it's serious even if it's 'only' your throat that responds.
Fun(?) hymenoptera trivia:
Wasp stings hurt more than bee stings.
You sensitize allergies to wasp stings much faster than to bees (a few,
or even just one, can do it for wasps, but it's typically many before
bees sensitize you).
All wasps use basically the same venom; so if you're allergic to one,
you're allergic to the rest. (Bees show more creativity.)
Bees don't go senile and drunk the way wasps do. They're year round
in the probable category of 'if you leave them alone, they'll leave you
alone.'
There are many kinds of wasps, some of which (certain varieties of
yellowjacket) look rather like honey bees if you're not used to looking
at bees and wasps.
Giant European Hornets (my Saturday encounter) are the worst-tempered
wasps even at the best of times, and have the greatest amount of venom.
(I've had similar results from yellowjackets, albeit with less prompt
and thorough remediative response on my part. This is my 4th encounter
like this. I've been learning.)
Wasps are most active (and annoyable) in the early evening.
Hymenopterist suggested my 8:10 AM encounter was that a straggler
back to the nest got pissed off at me making it detour or some such.
--
Robert Grumbine http://www.radix.net/~bobg/ Science faqs and amateur activities notes and links.
Sagredo (Galileo Galilei) "You present these recondite matters with too much
evidence and ease; this great facility makes them less appreciated than they
would be had they been presented in a more abstruse manner." Two New Sciences
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Date: 21 Sep 2006 10:13:04
From: ActionBill@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Waspy time of year
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Robert Grumbine wrote:
> I recently had a bad encounter with a wasp while running.
I'm Catholic but I get along very well with wasps.
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Date: 21 Sep 2006 11:36:36
From: LSmith
Subject: Re: Waspy time of year
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Christmas?
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Date: 21 Sep 2006 17:51:31
From: Tony S.
Subject: Re: Waspy time of year
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"Robert Grumbine" <bobg@radix.net > wrote in message
news:12h5fd6bji2hd42@corp.supernews.com...
>
> I recently had a bad encounter with a wasp while running.
> Since I'm probably not the only one who is allergic to wasps,
> and it's the time of year for wasps to be a problem, I'll pass
> on a few notes from a hymenopterist friend and my MD.
Saved for the future, thanks. Had a wasp sting while I was running about 2
weeks ago. It got me on the front of the ankle. I must have picked it up on
a stride and it got stuck between the shoe collar and my sock. Hurt like
hell for 5 mins, but as I kept running it went away pretty fast. Luckily I'm
not allergic, but the spot where it stung me is still visible, and left a
welt there for a few days. Wasps do hurt more!
-Tony
> I'm going to continue trail running, but be a little more judicious
> about when and where.
>
> * From here to about ober, the wasps are old (senile) and likely
> to be drunk (rotten fruit on the ground). Consequently, the usual
> rules about 'if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone' don't
> apply. They may well nail you because you look like dinner, or
> you made them detour on their way home, or they're just drunk and mean.
>
> * The other time of year to watch is about April, as the queens are
> trying to establish their nests/colonies. (I was nailed once while
> walking well away from any nest one April.)
>
> * If you are stung, baking soda paste or a freshly cut onion put on
> the site are good for reducing effects.
>
> * If you're stung and are moderately allergic (as I am) then you
> want to apply a topical like Benadryl and take some antihistamine
> internally as well. (The swelling etc., are because of your
> body's histamine response, and histamine in the venom itself.)
>
> * Ice on the affected area may be a good idea or irrelevant; I do it
> myself.
>
> * If you're stung and are severely allergic, you need an epinephrine
> pen with you at the time (you have only a few minutes before anaphalaxis
> shuts down your breathing).
>
> * You can progress from moderately** to severely allergic on the next
> sting. (Hence I now have such a pen and will be carrying it with me
> when I'm in wasp-friendly areas.) Or the next time out you may have
> no more reaction than an ordinary person. This allergy doesn't
> necessarily get worse with time and may spontaneously clear. (One of
> the things which makes MD life interesting.)
>
> ** Moderately allergic, my current status, means that you have pain for
> longer than usual, and swelling down the entire limb. Since I was nailed
> behind the knee, my entire lower leg swelled greatly (edema, as fluids
> leaked out of capillaries). The swelling was down enough to wear
> shoes and socks without annoyance about 5 days after the sting.
> At moderately, you might also have some responses elsewhere, as I did
> this time on my arm, with several swollen patches. If your breathing
> is affected, it's serious even if it's 'only' your throat that responds.
>
>
> Fun(?) hymenoptera trivia:
>
> Wasp stings hurt more than bee stings.
>
> You sensitize allergies to wasp stings much faster than to bees (a few,
> or even just one, can do it for wasps, but it's typically many before
> bees sensitize you).
>
> All wasps use basically the same venom; so if you're allergic to one,
> you're allergic to the rest. (Bees show more creativity.)
>
> Bees don't go senile and drunk the way wasps do. They're year round
> in the probable category of 'if you leave them alone, they'll leave you
> alone.'
>
> There are many kinds of wasps, some of which (certain varieties of
> yellowjacket) look rather like honey bees if you're not used to looking
> at bees and wasps.
>
> Giant European Hornets (my Saturday encounter) are the worst-tempered
> wasps even at the best of times, and have the greatest amount of venom.
> (I've had similar results from yellowjackets, albeit with less prompt
> and thorough remediative response on my part. This is my 4th encounter
> like this. I've been learning.)
>
> Wasps are most active (and annoyable) in the early evening.
> Hymenopterist suggested my 8:10 AM encounter was that a straggler
> back to the nest got pissed off at me making it detour or some such.
>
> --
> Robert Grumbine http://www.radix.net/~bobg/ Science faqs and amateur
activities notes and links.
> Sagredo (Galileo Galilei) "You present these recondite matters with too
much
> evidence and ease; this great facility makes them less appreciated than
they
> would be had they been presented in a more abstruse manner." Two New
Sciences
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Date: 22 Sep 2006 11:24:54
From: Miss Anne Thrope
Subject: Re: Waspy time of year
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Allergic to wasps?
The country club must be terrifying for you........it's ass deep in
whitey.
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