[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Bees do have that swarm and heat defence, but they are usually on the losing end of meetings with wasps - especially hornets.


Wasps have their place in nature, however. Like some other posts a few pages back, they simply destroy many other insects that we regard to as pests and competition for food.

I generally leave the wasps alone, unless they land on me. They get a bit aggressive this time of year unfortunately. I had one land on my back while I was gardening and it bit me - I killed that one. Just swatted one to its' death as it touched my ear.

Strangely, bees never scare me. I just use my hand and gently push them away as they fly into me (lots of flowers and a fairly big vegetable garden, so it attracts a lot of both).

However, every spring I am wary of any wasps trying to build nests in places that I pass by a lot. I just make sure to swat and kill the first wasp trying to make a nest, and that is it. I had a wasp hive right outside the walkout basement door, into the deck. Close the door too loudly, or stay there for too long, and they would start swarming. Took a lot of effort to get rid of them, so early on in spring, I am vigilant to kill any right away that are trying to make a hive. Otherwise I leave them completely alone.

I have seen wasps pluck off caterpillars, chow-down on some aphids and even catch flies. I leave them alone until they touch me. That is the rule with me - touch me, I touch you back. I have only been stung once in the last 20 years and only because I was helping a friend remove a wasp nest (he is allergic) underneath his shed.

Wasps are our friends. Sometimes, they are our traitorous friends who we must squish, but they are usually our friends. However, if I saw them attacking a bee's nest, I would grab the nearest racquet and start practicing my backhand and forehand quite a bit.

Watch out wasp bitches. Don't touch Calgary4 life!!