Wasps: what are the dangers?
A cousin of the hornet, the wasp is characterized by its marked size separating its thorax from its abdomen, but also by its black and yellow stripes.
Wasp Profile
With a length of 11 to 18 millimeters, the female has a sharp stinger like a needle that allows her to sting her prey several times without dying unlike the male. There are several species of wasp:
– The German wasp: its nest is usually located in the ground and in tree cavities;
– The wood wasp: its nest is usually suspended from small tree branches;
– The common wasp: it measures about 15 to 20 millimeters and places its nest in the ground, in tree and habitat cavities;
– The cuckoo wasp: it is a solitary species of wasp that builds its nest in trees and tends to lay its eggs in the nest of red wasps.
Come summer, wasps invade our gardens and roam around our meals in search of their own food; if a wasp gets too close to you, be careful not to get stung.
Danger of wasps for health
While most of us think a wasp sting is nothing but unpleasant, it can quickly become a problem due to allergies and other health concerns that wasp venom causes. The risk of a sting can range from the mildest of reactions to the most severe. There are three reactions:
– The local reaction: it is painful but harmless, it is characterized most of the time by:
- Redness at the site of the bite followed by swelling
- Hardness of the affected area accompanied by itching
– The toxic reaction: it is caused by several stings at the same time, to the symptoms mentioned above are added others even more serious, namely:
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Headaches and low blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness in some cases
– The allergic reaction: in the case of people allergic to wasp venom, it only takes one sting to cause the following symptoms:
- The eruption of hives that cause itching and swelling in the face;
- Breathing is made difficult due to swelling of the tongue and throat which can lead to an asthma attack;
- A drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and dizziness;
Without prompt medical care, all of these symptoms can get worse.
Wasps: how to get rid of them?
Getting rid of wasps is a dangerous operation so before attempting anything, think about personal protective equipment. There are a few simple methods that will allow you to keep wasps away from you; dispose of the ground coffee in a container, preferably stainless steel, then burn and place it in the various places where you have located the wasp nests. The acrid smell of the smoke will allow them to disperse and as long as the smell persists they will stay away from your home. Do not hesitate to also use the essential oils of cloves, lavender and lemongrass which act as repellents.
If the infestation is large enough, throw in the towel because the risk is not worth it; call us and it is with pleasure that we will proceed to the extermination of these pests and the elimination of their nest to avoid you running an unnecessary risk.