Black Thumb Pat
August 9th, 2005, 08:18 AM
I was stung by a wasp I've never seen before and can't find in my pests and other fun insects book.
The little bugger was about 3/4 to an inch long, had clear, veined wings, had a rust brown and black banded body and seemed to be more interested in using mandibles than to sting. I didn't see a stinger, but it took a chunk out of my ring finger. My finger started to swell and it really hurt. I've been stung by black and by red wasps and usually the sting fades off after 10-15 minutes.
About a half hour afterwards, it not only still hurt, but my finger was swelling. I used ice, honey, witchhazel to try and reduce the swelling (couldn't find the baking soda - found it later out in the garden shed). Nothing worked. The swelling increased to include my hand and fingers. Didn't feel good for two days, just sort of lethargic and didn't see the large vein in my hand for three days.
Anyone got a clue what this wasp is? I have never seen it before and I have never had such a reaction to a wasp sting before. Usually the wasps and I live peacefully unless they are somewhere that would put visitors in danger of being stung. I don't have many nests, but I let them do their job and they let me do mine.
The little bugger was about 3/4 to an inch long, had clear, veined wings, had a rust brown and black banded body and seemed to be more interested in using mandibles than to sting. I didn't see a stinger, but it took a chunk out of my ring finger. My finger started to swell and it really hurt. I've been stung by black and by red wasps and usually the sting fades off after 10-15 minutes.
About a half hour afterwards, it not only still hurt, but my finger was swelling. I used ice, honey, witchhazel to try and reduce the swelling (couldn't find the baking soda - found it later out in the garden shed). Nothing worked. The swelling increased to include my hand and fingers. Didn't feel good for two days, just sort of lethargic and didn't see the large vein in my hand for three days.
Anyone got a clue what this wasp is? I have never seen it before and I have never had such a reaction to a wasp sting before. Usually the wasps and I live peacefully unless they are somewhere that would put visitors in danger of being stung. I don't have many nests, but I let them do their job and they let me do mine.