Insect Attacks - Be Prepared!

Some of you may know that I have had very little critter issues although most of what I do is outdoors along with Mother Nature and all her beauty and potential mayhem.

Bear with me - there is some important care information below.

I have much respect and kind regard for wasps unlike most other potentially harmful insects, particularly of the airborne type.

I have done my share of not intruding their space (nest) and have on occasion moved (yes) a nest or two on their behalf. Yet, I have also had to eradicate a few nests. If you so desire, learn about my other wasp experiences and advice at https://shootsandmatters.blogspot.com/search?q=wasp and scroll down.

Until last Friday I have only been stung by a wasp once. I was pruning this gorgeous young japanese maple which had a fairly open branch structure, but she needed some attention. Wasps will place a nest most anywhere they can hang one. My problem that day was most of my experience with wasps have been when working on dense shrubs, not trees.

So, a few minutes into pruning, without warning, a wasp came and lit into my upper bicep. I didn't notice it was a wasp until it was flying away. I thought it to be a rare errant wasp on the loose, but I did go grab my small container of Gold Bond Pain & Itch Relief Antiseptic Spray.

This stuff almost immediately takes the zing out of the sting (or bite) and I have noticed less welting with fire ant bites. Actually, fire ants don't bite, but sting with their abdomens and they waste no time in doing so. Also, wasps don't leave a stinger like bees do, which needs to be removed as soon as possible.

I sprayed the Gold Bond on the point of contact and went back to work, but first I did a little looking around and probing of the japanese maple branches and leaf stems, finding nothing obvious or any wasps hovering about what would be a nest.

Problem: I was looking for the obvious and didn't take much time doing so.

I continued happily pruning this girl and another wasp realized I hadn't quite got the message as I was disrupting the branch where they had placed their home or at least the location for the next generation to begin.

I hadn't seen the nest yet, but I certainly saw the wasp as it zeroed in on my upper left chest and made a direct hit through my shirt. Note: Under Armor is not armor.

Two zingers in about two minutes - there had to be a nest. I found it, broke out ye old wasp and hornet killer spray, saturated and flung the nest far from where I was working. Wasps don't have the vengeful thing going on like yellow jackets (a type of wasp) and usually get disoriented and have never attacked me once the nest is neutralized or moved.

The Gold Bond did its job as usual and the pain and itching was negligible. The container I have is very small and I recommend you have one at home, in your car and outdoor or sport bag, particularly if you have young children. The pain can be quite terrifying to a young one and beyond relieving the pain you definitely don't want them fearing the great (not always, obviously) outdoors. Of course there are other things you want to watch for, particularly if the victim is allergic to such things. Use webMD or other sources for more information.

I went on to prune a crepe myrtle and two japanese maples.

I don't know if these wasps were on steroids, crack or what. Or, perhaps the stings being about eight inches apart didn't help, but within a few hours my left arm swole up (Southern dialect) and after about six hours it was nearly twice the size of my right arm. Several friends said the swelling was probably due to an allergic reaction. I know my heart rate was somewhat elevated, but I was working in the heat. I thought to myself, "Why don't I go find those two wasps, with full venom sacs, and have them sting you twice in very nearby locations. You can call it allergic or whatever you like." And then throw in a, "Bless your heart. You must be allergic to wasps."

I did take Benadryl, which I have never before, and everyone told me I would be out within an hour. Well, it was about seven hours later before I truly went to sleep. Then again, I love coffee, but it doesn't wake me.

I did apply aloe vera gel to the sting area and vinegar (my go-to natural) to the swollen areas which were red and somewhat itchy.

Other than that, it was a great day of pruning crepe myrtles and japanese maples. Some things are worth it.

See wasps; I win!

Ouch! That sh!@ hurt!

Okay, so I wrote the article about wasps just last week, somewhere within, indicating I have never been stung by a wasp. I usually knock on wood after making such statements, because I am no fool to the reality that such things may and probably will occur.

Well, I was on this beautiful property (just a few days ago) I know very well, about to finish a project. Me knowing the property so well was probably not so relevant as no wasps have ever asked me where the hell they could build their nest. I've been in the greenhouse on the property a few times with wasps zipping around while I go about my business, until I get to the business of taking out their nest.

What's a Wasp to Do...Particularly this Time of Year?

Well, about this time of year, many workers are now unemployed because the colony (more in a moment) is busy breeding new workers and the old-guard workers need something to do and start looking for food elsewhere.

This is why you may experience or see more wasps this time of year.

There are hundreds of thousands of wasp species and colonies aren't all that common - most nests I see are single family homes.

Wasps will begin construction of a nest on just about any material. Over several days I saw a family build a nest on a nail in a shed door. Not always so obvious, wasps are pretty darn good at hanging nests under things, which is why we occasionally tend to disrupt them without knowing it until we are right on top of them.

Wasp Update

Bon Bon (Better known by such only by us and we'll leave it at that.), a customer and fun-loving, warm-hearted, astute and talented women, after hearing me writing about wasps and learning I had been stung just shortly afterward, took interest in a service we truly don't promote - eradicating wasp nests.

I saw her at the gym a few days after being stung and no sympathy was offered as I told her the story. We discussed the upcoming project for her property and I went about my work-out routine.

Later, as I was still working out and she may have been, perhaps, ending some sort of physical activity (mostly above the chin line), she came to see me and said something to the effect of, "Doug, I'm having friends over this Sunday and I was just wondering if you can take care of some wasp nests I have on my back porch - she has a wonderful back yard.

Our next project was next week, but being who she is and all that which has nothing to do with anything, as she is a customer, I obligated to come over as soon as possible, and I did, that very day.

She had my back all the way, from behind the cool and protected home doors off the back porch as I went into battle. Actually, she was there with me all the while as we laughed as I took care of the problem.

That's fun landscaping or whatever, insect eradication, along side a great customer.

It's what we do

Oh What a Relief It Is

Plant Bed After Installation

Occasionally or more often than not, you purchase a home and a few weeks or months in, you ask yourself, "What the heck was the previous owner, developer or contractor thinking?"

Or, perhaps those cute little shrubs which were about two feet tall several years ago are now ten-foot behemoths and are so dense that the only flying animal which could build a nest in them is a wasp.

The photo you see may not be so dramatic although it will be more so come summer, next year and years to come. Yet; the new look far exceeds the fortress (Where did my home go?) look it had just a few weeks ago.

Plant Area Prior

The facade of this portion of the home was hidden. It has this wonderful blue-gray color which works.

We removed five hollies and some struggling dwarf azaleas.

We then brought in a variety of Dystiliums with foliage ranging from green, blue-green and cinnamon, which will highlight the color of the siding and the brick as well. These Dystiliums provide panicles of reddish-maroon flowers. 

Forward are Soft Caress Mahonia which will have fountains of yellow inflorescence followed by blue berries.

The centerpiece, the Dystilium ''Emerald Heights' will reach for the windows over time while the other plants decrease in mature height from rear to front.

All are airy and light plants and even as they may become dense over time, are easy to prune - at least, by me. They all are also evergreens as we wanted to make this a low-maintenance bed based on the customer's desires; yet, there will be flower and foliage changes throughout the year. 

We also threw in a Nanho Butterfly Bush to obscure the downspout on the right corner of the home - another plant which will take advantage of the color of the siding.

Below are the plants we installed.

Dystilium "Emerald Heights'

Dystilium 'Cinnamon Girl'

Dystilium 'Blue Cascade'

Soft Caress Mahonia

Nanho Butterfly Bush

Many of you will remember this: