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So, yesterday, I am standing on my backyard talking with my parents. We talk for about five minutes, then I see this little black blur come into my field of vision. It is about 2 inches away from my face, so I can't really focus on it. Then, the blur flies directly at my face and bumps against my lower lip. As it turns out, this "blur" was actually a wasp and that "bump" was its stinger. After it stung my lip, it flew away as fast as it could and disappeared.
Now, I have to make this perfectly clear, this thing flew up behind, snuck around to my front (taking special care to stay below my field of vision), then flew directly vertical (still staying out of my field of vision) until reaching the corresponding altitude of my lower lip (at this point, I can see the wasp, but because it is so close, I cannot focus on it). Then, without hesitation, it stings me and then makes its escape. It does not even glance at my parents, who were the only other people around. It just got me and then "flew" the coup.
Because of this, I was unable to play my horn due to the fact that my lower lip was roughly double its usual size. I am currently unable to play my horn (and probably won't be able to play for at least another day) due to the soreness and right out pain in my lower lip (which extends all the way to the end of my jaw...not my lip, the pain). Is it just me, or does this sound a like a planned hit? Has this happened to anyone else? Has anyone else even HEARD of a person being stung by a wasp on their friggin' LIP!!!???

Possibly, immediate removal of the stinger was the difference...

I got zapped this AM on my walk. About 7:00, I was rounding a corner and I felt the sting on the edge of my iPod band. A 3"x3" section of my arm swelled immediately, and it still hurts. I never saw the bugger coming...thankfully, he missed my chops by a long shot!

It wouldn't be a waste of time to consult your physician about this, since anaphylactic and allergic reactions can vary with time and actually become QUITE serious. I've had several run-ins with insects, the worst of which have been with yellow-jackets. You didn't mention any other history with this [reactions to OTHER stinging insects?], but you might consider carrying an Epi-Pen, which I do. Haven't run afoul of yellow jackets for over 20 years, but don't want to risk it. A LOT more than a swollen lip could ensue.

josh_kaprun wrote: . . . . As it turns out, this "blur" was actually a wasp and that "bump" was its stinger. After it stung my lip, it flew away as fast as it could and disappeared. . . .

Belongs in "Off topic," but some insects are attracted to people who use perfumed soap and other cosmetics.

Practice piano for a few days.

windshieldbug wrote:Possibly, immediate removal of the stinger was the difference...

Just to be clear, Wasps don't leave their 'stinger' in place - they just inject a little venom and fly off to sting more unsuspecting musicians. Bees on the other hand do leave the tip of their tail in their victim which, if removed immediately, can reduce the ill effects.

The Bee cuts short its life in stinging unlike the Wasp who are known to be a little more trigger-happy as a result.

Least that's how it works in England...

ouch.

Peach wrote:Least that's how it works in England...

Oh, our wasps are different. They sting on the RIGHT side of the mouth!

(Seriously- thanks for the correction. Just goes to show you that you learn something new every day if you're not careful!

And I'm still trying to figure out how this relates to O.J. and his "private sting operation"... )

keronarts wrote:you might consider carrying an Epi-Pen

Very true. I lost a good friend of many years to a bee that flew out of her bassoon case at a rehearsal and stung her. She had been stung a month or two earlier and had a serious reaction to having been so. An Epi-pen was administered but sadly she did not recover and we lost Nancy. Her Husband said she had lightly oiled the bore of her bassoon earlier that day with almond oil (if I remember correctly) A teacher had instructed her to do so which was contrary to my instructions. I am guessing the oil had attracted the insect. Almost seemed biblical the way the story played out. In the end, we lost a really fun and talented friend, mother and band-mate.


Daniel C. Oberloh

This powder/water mix. What's the powder? I can tolerate the wasps, but carpenter bees...they need to go!

What are you using? I've never found anything that'll discourage carpenter bees.

If you are stung and can get a raw onion on the sting IMMEDIATELY you may reduce the effect of the sting. I think what happens is that stings inject formic acid and onions are an organic base that, when combined with the formic acid results in an salt that is easily absorbed by your body. What i am certain of is that it works.

Let me make the disclaimer here, as I work for S. C. Johnson Wax and I actually make Raid Wasp & Hornet Killer as well as all of the Raid/OFF products. As our entomology department director once told me, "If it's a bee, it's not bothering you, they have better things to do, but a Wasp is another story". Our "Raid Deep Reach" brand fogger works very well for garages or inclosed areas, and of course the W&H spray will stop them in an instant, but you have to target the little bast##ds first. I would caution you if you are working with Cypermethrin for a DIY project, it is a sensitizer and in concentrated form you should be very careful with it. How often do we have someone post, "leave the horn repairs to the professionals", Perhaps I should say, "leave the insecticide formulation to the professionals".

Steve

windshieldbug wrote:

Peach wrote:Least that's how it works in England...

Oh, our wasps are different. They sting on the RIGHT side of the mouth!

I'm sure when a British wasp stings you it says "Dreadfully sorry, old chap. Guess the old upper lip wasn't quite stiff enough, was it? Well, cheereo, then." Then it tips its little bowler and flies off.

Scooby Tuba wrote:

OldsRecording wrote:I'm sure when a British wasp stings you it says "Dreadfully sorry, old chap. Guess the old upper lip wasn't quite stiff enough, was it? Well, cheereo, then." Then it tips its little bowler and flies off.

Really? I was picturing a little, tiny skinheaded insect in a set of miniature Doc Martins stinging you and then kicking one of your teeth out!

I suppose it depends what class of wasp we're talking about, whether it kicks your teeth in or possibly elbows you in the ribs while saying "Nudge, nudge, know what I mean, know what I mean?"

"'tis but a flesh wound!"

windshieldbug wrote:Possibly, immediate removal of the stinger was the difference...

Do wasps leave their stinger in the wound as do (only some) bees?

Rick "who thinks wasps would be less aggressive were it so" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:

windshieldbug wrote:Possibly, immediate removal of the stinger was the difference...

Do wasps leave their stinger in the wound as do (only some) bees?

Rick "who thinks wasps would be less aggressive were it so" Denney

Wasp stingers are smooth.

Bee stingers are barbed. Bees can sting *other bees* multiple times, but when they attack a mammal, the barbs prevent the stinger from pulling out, and the stinger instead detachs from the bee. The bee dies within minutes.

Interestingly, the bee stinger has enough of a nervous system that it continues to penetrate and inject venom for some time after the bee has gone. This is part of the reason that IMMEDIATELY removing the stinger is a good idea.

"Alright, then, give me a bee license."
"A license for your pet bee? Called Eric? Eric the Bee?"
"No."
"No?"
"He's called Eric the Half-Bee. He had an accident."
"You're off your chump."
"If you intend by that obscure colloquialism to deny the semi-existance of my little chum Eric the Half-Bee, I shall have to ask you to listen to this! Take it away, Eric the Orchestra Leader!"