The other day I was finishing up in the garden, carrying a shovel in one hand and 'Fiona' (my garden rake) in the other. I spotted about a 3" diameter hole in the ground, so I naturally had to get a closer look. Out flew a yellow jacket. And I, with my hands full, could do nothing but back up quickly, but not quick enough. It stung me on the forehead.

I hope you poured something good down that hole, in return!

I hope that you're not allergic.

Tormato wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 9:49 pm The other day I was finishing up in the garden, carrying a shovel in one hand and 'Fiona' (my garden rake) in the other. I spotted about a 3" diameter hole in the ground, so I naturally had to get a closer look. Out flew a yellow jacket. And I, with my hands full, could do nothing but back up quickly, but not quick enough. It stung me on the forehead.

Sorry about the wasp sting but I am impressed that you bonded well enough with your rake to actually name it.

“This is my rake. There are many like it, but this one is mine."

Wildcat82 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 12:25 am “This is my rake. There are many like it, but this one is mine."

How many people are going to get today's episode of "name that (edited) movie line"?

Yikes. Not a good experience.

Oooh, a nasty sting. The only helpful thing was that a bunch it its buddies didn't come pouring out with it! Time to deal with that nest after sunset when they're all nice and cozy at home.

I’ve hurt myself worse trying to escape wasps and hornets than the damage the stings might inflict. I can see impaling myself on that rake in an effort to escape the yellow jacket’s stinger so nice work avoiding that self-inflicted hazard.

A paper wasp recently set up a nest in my pole beans about 4 feet up, but I saw the wasp and nest before I reached in.

Wildcat82 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 12:25 am

Tormato wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 9:49 pm The other day I was finishing up in the garden, carrying a shovel in one hand and 'Fiona' (my garden rake) in the other. I spotted about a 3" diameter hole in the ground, so I naturally had to get a closer look. Out flew a yellow jacket. And I, with my hands full, could do nothing but back up quickly, but not quick enough. It stung me on the forehead.

Sorry about the wasp sting but I am impressed that you bonded well enough with your rake to actually name it.

“This is my rake. There are many like it, but this one is mine."

Bonded with it? Oh, horrors, no.

Fiona, my mortal enemy in the garden, has attempted to bond with me several times, though, over the years.

This should explain it...



I've always stepped on one side of her, with the rake shooting to the side, past my head. Only one time did I get hit, with just the tiniest nibble on the ear, which did not hurt.

GoDawgs wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:52 am Oooh, a nasty sting. The only helpful thing was that a bunch it its buddies didn't come pouring out with it! Time to deal with that nest after sunset when they're all nice and cozy at home.

The nest was still very young, so there were likely very few yellow jackets. The following day we had monsoon rains, so I grabbed the shovel and tossed many loads of soil over the hole. I've never been stung above the knees, before.

Tormato wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:01 am

GoDawgs wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:52 am Oooh, a nasty sting. The only helpful thing was that a bunch it its buddies didn't come pouring out with it! Time to deal with that nest after sunset when they're all nice and cozy at home.

The nest was still very young, so there were likely very few yellow jackets. The following day we had monsoon rains, so I grabbed the shovel and tossed many loads of soil over the hole. I've never been stung above the knees, before.

They are very good at digging their way out. They may even move the entrance several feet over so beware! Nasty little buggers!

Nothing I have ever been stung by before hurts worse than one of those big ole red ants here in Texas.
They are known as harvester ants or Atta Texana.
It's like having a cigarette put out on you.

worth1 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 8:10 am Nothing I have ever been stung by before hurts worse than one of those big ole red ants here in Texas.
They are known as harvester ants or Atta Texana.
It's like having a cigarette put out on you.

I’ve somehow missed out on that pleasure. Cannot walk very far on the Edwards Plateau or what’s left of it without seeing a whole lot of their nests.

I wonder about the cow killer ants (really a wasp) and the tingle of their stings, you ever had that kind of fun, @worth1 ?

karstopography wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 8:19 am

worth1 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 8:10 am Nothing I have ever been stung by before hurts worse than one of those big ole red ants here in Texas.
They are known as harvester ants or Atta Texana.
It's like having a cigarette put out on you.

I’ve somehow missed out on that pleasure. Cannot walk very far on the Edwards Plateau or what’s left of it without seeing a whole lot of their nests.

I wonder about the cow killer ants (really a wasp) and the tingle of their stings, you ever had that kind of fun, @worth1 ?

No but I've seen them.
I even ran over one with a 10 speed bicycle with high pressure tires and it didn't even phase it.
The name alone was enough to scare the devil out of me.

Well at least this thread reminded me to go find the rake which I left propped up somewhere. Tx Tormato.
I haven't been as lucky as you, gave myself an awful smack in the head once which was unforgettable.
No stings yet this season, and hoping to keep it that way!

Garden forks, that’s my nemesis.

Oouchi

Dark tool shed and stepping on rake and it hits you on the bone above the eye.
Kind of sucks the wind out of your sails as to what you were there for to begin with.

Yesterday I was taking apart an old straw bale from last season to spread around as mulch and got surprised by a large black snake that apparently had a home in the bale. But I also found out it was the home of some hornets which stung me 3 times before I could make my escape. My wrist and ankle are better today but still itchy. I will spray the nest in the bale tonight when they go in for the evening. So I agree with Tormato "ouch that hurt" !

Hornets & wasps are really helpful animals in the garden - they eat other insects and they are important for the natural balance.
Last year, we had a big hornetnest next to the entrance of our house, we never got stung. Just at night, when we made light outside, they were very active around the light. So we just didn't use it for a while. This winter, we closed the entrance to their previous nest in our wooden ceiling and that's it.

In Germany we have different kinds of wasps, luckily the main ones here, with long legs, are quite peaceful. You can get very close to their nest without a problem.
If you treat them with respect and move slow around their home, you can live in harmony with them.

Sure, accidental stings can happen, if you get too fast & close to their nest - but that somehow is just a matter of awareness.
It is just their natural instinct to protect their home & children, just like us.
Can you blame them for that?