In a July Harvest Monday posting, I mentioned a bug bite while mowing the lawn. I speculated it was maybe a spider bite. Eightgatefarmnh suggested in the comments that it might have been a ground nesting wasp and after some thought, I agreed. But didn't think much more of it.
Yesterday afternoon while clearing the dead lily stems from one of the daylily patches, I was slightly swarmed by wasps and ended up with three sting bites - two on my right forearm and one on my lower stomach (right through my pants). Thankfully I don't have a fatal allergy to stings but enough that it causes a lot of discomfort.
After 24 hours, the sting area continued to swell up. I took some antihistamine immediately, but didn't realize a specific antihistamine was needed. I purchased some Benadryl this morning as that is what the pharmacist suggested.
I decided to limit my work in the garden today for a variety of reasons (Benadryl makes me crazy drowsy, the swelling made it hard to grasp plants with my right hand, good excuse to have lazy time on a very hot afternoon). So I diddle-daddled around the yard. What a coincidence to find a ground wasp nest right by one of my flower gardens! I'm guessing this is exactly what I will find when I get brave enough to check out the daylily patch again.
I haven't figured out what to do about these yet, but at least I know what to watch out for. It looks a lot like the holes chipmunks create - surprisingly big for small insects!
Ouch! I've had ground nesting wasps twice in my garden. Once by the compost pile at my other house. I didn't use the compost that year. Luckily the yellow jackets decided on some place new the next year. Then once in this house under the fig tree. I was really careful when I was tying up the tree. I moved very slowly and didn't get too close to the next. I was worried though as it was right next to the road where my townhouse mates park and was afraid they would get stung. But they had a wait and see attitude. Luckily nature helped us out. A skunk came by and dug up the nest. I did read about one way to get rid of them that sounded interesting. You place an inverted glass bowl over the entrance to the next (sometimes they have more than one entrance and you have to use two (or more) bowls. Do it at dusk or dawn, when there is enough light to see by, but the wasps aren't active. And the glass has to make contact on all edges or the wasps will get out there. I've never tried it though. Good luck. I hate when I have ground dwelling wasps in the yard.
ReplyDeleteI might try the inverted bowl but should see if there is another entrance first. Trying to just stay from those areas for now.
DeleteI've had skunks dig up the nests too. Helpful animals! Sorry about your stings. Gardening is hard work but it should not hurt!
ReplyDeleteFinally decided to go to the doctor today, now on antibiotics for 10 days as the swelling hasn't gone done and blisters are coming up. Geez! I know I have a skunk around somewhere, hopefully he makes himself useful.
DeleteUpdate ...I've hired someone to come out and dig up the two nests I've identified. Ugh! Not going to wait for a skunk to do the dirty work.
ReplyDeleteEek - I haven't seen any ground nests, but don't really work in the flower beds that much either. Your story is a good warning to keep our eyes and ears open when working in the perennial borders. Last year, I did have bees nesting inside a planter that housed a succulent - had to steer well clear of it all summer. I hope you are feeling better now & the antibiotics are helping.
ReplyDeleteYes, eek! One was outside of a flower bed just in the lawn. Not sure if this is true but a friend said when you start seeing wasps and bees (yes, bees do it too) putting their nests in the ground, it means a lighter snow for the upcoming winter (heavy snows means their nests will get flooded come spring). Interesting. And thanks Margaret, feeling better definitely!
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