False Dawn

[poliphilo]

There's a wasp's nest in the roof just above one of the bathroom windows. I went to the bathroom in the early dawn and switched the light on- and the wasps came pouring in. I suppose they thought they were seeing the sunrise. I switched the light off again sharpish and by the time I got up for breakfast they'd all gone- apart from one which hadn't been able to find the way out and had expired on the bathroom floor.

When we first moved to the farm we were horrid to our wasps and called the exterminator in on them a couple of times. I'll not easily forget the sight of them flying round with their bodies coated in the white stuff he'd puffed at them. Since then our policy has been live and let live. In the normal course of events they don't come in the house. They have their ecological niche; they eat rotten stuff- and they're pollinators. If we could rid ourselves of our fear and prejudice we'd acknowledge that they're beautiful in their stripy coats.

Comments

[oakmouse]

Wasps are really easy to lure out of the house --- take a piece of strong-smelling lunch-meat (we used to keep cheap liverwurst on hand for this purpose, but processed ham also works well), wave it under their metaphorical noses, and they'll light on it. Then just carry it outside and set it down well away from the house, and they won't come back for a good long time. By the time they've finished eating it the scent trail will have faded, so they'll head off to forage elsewhere.

They really are beautiful creatures, and they don't sting that often. If you move slowly and gently, they won't get alarmed; they'll just potter about quietly. I used to let them walk all over me, and never once got stung. Although one did chew a piece of thickened skin off of the side of my big toe, and carry it off in triumph!

[poliphilo]

That's a handy tip. Thanks.

I've been stung by wasps and bees- but not very often- and I've never thought it any big deal.

[oakmouse]

You're welcome!

My experneice of the few stings I've gotten is that they're not a big deal unless you're allergic. A paste of baking soda and water will take them right down, cool the stung area, and make it easy to get the stinger out with a pair of tweezers.

Of course, if you're allergic it's Katy bar the door, but that's another matter.

(Edited to fix a typo.)