What does a wasp sting look like and does it remain after the bite?

Does the wasp bite or sting?

The wasp is known to have a sting. But it turns out that not every individual has it, but only females. With its help they defend themselves or attack. A wasp hive is mainly filled with females, so it is believed that all individuals have a sting.

These insects are also armed with sharp, strong jaws that can easily bite through chitin. A wasp bites when attacked by insects. But when faced with a person, she uses a sting to release her poison from him. She does not stop at one bite, but tries to hit the person several more times in order to inject as much poison as possible. Depending on the age, type and volume of poison, the wasp stings at least 5 times.

Interesting! If an insect senses danger, someone attacks the nest - a special signal is given to other individuals. The enemy receives a lot of bites from the entire swarm.

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I will ask you to justify your answer based on some rules of the Russian language.

A wasp sting is a weapon that insects use to kill a victim and protect their own life. It is a modified ovipositor, so males do not have such weapons for anatomical reasons. Due to the fact that the wasp family is dominated by females, it was believed that wasps have a sting. In each species it has an identical structure, but differs in the strength of the poison that the insect injects when bitten.

The structure of a wasp sting

Female wasps use their sting for defense and attack. Its role is to paralyze the victim. If it is an insect, it is taken to the wasp hive for food.

The sting consists of:

• poison gland;
• pointed proboscis;
• internal duct.

It is through the internal duct that the poison from the gland enters the victim. The shape resembles a regular needle. Although it is thin, it is quite strong, as it consists of chitin. The formation of the weapon begins in the egg, so males, in principle, do not have the opportunity to possess it. The length of the sting is impressive, since the wasp extends it when biting. The proboscis and duct can be examined using a microscope.

The use of folk remedies

There are many allergy medications available. If the body's reaction is manifested only by redness of the stung area and slight swelling, an antihistamine and a cold compress will bring significant relief and will help the victim recover faster from the bite.

In addition to drug treatment for mild allergies, folk remedies can relieve pain and reduce swelling. At home, to eliminate the consequences of a bite, you can do the following:

1. Apply compresses (with ice, lemon, vinegar).
2. Apply half an onion or an apple slice to the affected area.
3. Treat the wound with parsley or mint juice.
4. Baking soda (mix with water to form a paste) will help relieve redness and swelling.
5. A moistened piece of granulated sugar partially neutralizes the poison from the wound.
6. Thyme juice will relieve inflammation.
7. Kalanchoe juice will stop the burning.
8. Sorrel juice is used as a pain reliever.

There are many excellent medicines, components, preparations and ointments that are aimed at reducing the consequences of an unpleasant proximity to the world of insects

How dangerous is the poison?

The insect is dangerous because its poison can cause a severe allergic reaction, even leading to death. Many people are unaware of their high sensitivity to this poison until the moment they are bitten. Although wasps sting quite often. The bite is accompanied by sharp pain, the wound swells, and a burning sensation is felt. This is the least you can get away with in such a situation. The consequences may be unforeseen.

The poison contains substances such as:

• phospholipase;
• melitin;
• histamine, etc.

The whole difficulty lies in the fact that without encountering a wasp, it is impossible to know about the presence of sensitivity to these substances. Therefore, an attack by a stinging insect can lead to unpleasant consequences and even death, although this is a very rare occurrence.

The properties of substances also include:

• destruction of body cells;
• causing tumor;
• triggering allergies;
• impact on the nervous system.

It is because of the action of the poison that the bite site becomes inflamed and does not heal for a sufficiently long period of time. Itching may also add to the pain. If the pain does not go away after 2 weeks, it is best to consult a doctor.

How much and how long the wound hurts may depend on the type of insect that stung. The bite of some individuals may be completely painless, while others will lead to suffering.

Most bites occur on the arms and legs. But cases of stinging in the head also occur. If the sting gets into the face, it may change beyond recognition. The eyelids swell to such a size that the eyes cannot see anything. Bites on the tongue often occur. This happens when a wasp sits on food, but a person did not notice it and took it into his mouth. The swollen tongue becomes so large that the mouth may not close.

Useful tips for parents

In many situations, a child is unable to defend himself. Only adults can help him if trouble has already happened and prevent most misfortunes that pose a hidden threat from the outside.

The wasp will not attack a person unless he is acting "suspiciously". You should explain to your baby that when stinging insects approach, he should not make sudden movements, should not panic, should not swing at the wasps, should not throw stones at them, or crush them with his hands and feet.

Wasp stings are different from bee stings, since bees are ready to attack a person for no reason. Along with the venom, the bee injects a substance that signals other insects to also attack the victim. Next comes the usual animal instinct, which will not be easy to stop.

The child should explain the differences between a wasp and a bee by showing insects in nature. There is no need to make your child extremely negative towards the insect. Some children take this approach quite literally and start hunting for stinging insects. This behavior can provoke a whole swarm of wasps that will mercilessly sting the baby and it will be impossible to fight them off.

Very young children need to be given advice as problems arise, calmly correcting their behavioral reactions. You should speak calmly, without making sudden movements or intimidating the baby. Older children can be periodically reminded of the threats, especially on the eve of the summer, when watermelons and melons appear on sale. It is not advisable for a child to be in the kitchen with parents engaged in summer canning - wasps sometimes fly into such apartments in a swarm, and expelling them from your home sometimes becomes a matter of several days.

Modern pharmacology is ready to offer repellents to prevent stinging insect bites. If parents have planned a walk with their child in nature or to a city park, where it will be difficult to resist buying cotton candy or ice cream, it makes sense to apply such preparations to the skin before leaving the house. Usually these are creams or sprays that have a pleasant fragrance and do not cause violent allergic reactions on the skin. After using them, simply washing under running water is sufficient to remove any remaining substance. The duration of action of repellents is from 2-3 to 6-8 hours.

When providing first aid to a child after a wasp sting, you cannot use a large number of even well-known impeccable and harmless remedies. Thus, serious damage to health can be caused, causing even more anxiety. Sometimes it’s enough just to apply a soda compress and treat the bite site with an alcohol solution. The site of the bite should be observed. If after a few hours the swelling begins to subside, the body temperature returns to normal, and redness decreases, then there is no cause for concern.

A few days after the bite, the affected area may sclerotize, forming large hard bumps. To restore normal blood circulation to the affected area, it can be treated with ointments and alcohol tinctures. In this case, Troxevasin, which is sold in pharmacies without a prescription, tincture of golden mustache, plantain or sophora will give a good effect. On the fourth day, warming up the affected area is allowed if the swelling has left behind a clear hematoma.

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Sources

1. Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Undated. Bee stings. https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/info/injuries/diagnose/beestings.htm
2. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2004. For children who never outgrow bee sting allergy: Shots reduce risk. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/08_11_04.html
3. Allergy to insect bites. (2018). acaai.org/allergies/types/insect-sting-allergies

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First aid for a child

What to do if bitten by a wasp?

Let us consider in detail what to do if it was not possible to avoid a wasp attack. The child must inform adults about this. Below are the measures that should be taken first, as well as how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

How to remove the sting?

Bees bite much more often than wasps. Therefore, a stung person cannot always accurately determine who attacked him. A wasp sting very rarely remains in the human body. This is only possible if it breaks off. The site must be inspected immediately. Since the wound swells quickly, examination will not yield results after a few minutes.

You should immediately treat the wound and apply cold to reduce swelling. If it is impossible to examine and remove the sting on your own, then you should seek help. To remove it you will need a magnifying object, good lighting and tweezers. Having grabbed the head, you should immediately pull the sting out of the wound.

Don't try to squeeze out the poison. There is a high probability that it will go deeper into the skin and enter the blood. This can lead to a serious inflammatory process.

First aid

Proper first aid can significantly reduce the risk of an anaphylactic reaction. What to do in this situation:

1. Place the stung person in a cool place. High temperatures can worsen the victim's condition. Do not let your head tilt to the side or back.
2. Wash the wound and treat with an antiseptic.
3. Apply ice or any cold compress to reduce swelling and pain.
4. Apply a remedy to the wound that eliminates local reactions. For example, cream “Rescuer”.
5. Give an antihistamine. For children, use age-appropriate medications.

Advice! When going outdoors, it would be good to pack a first aid kit with you to provide first aid in such situations.

1. Drink as much water as possible.
2. If an anaphylactic reaction occurs, call an ambulance.

Allergic reaction

The action of immunoglobulins in a healthy body can neutralize the effect of poisons. Its production begins immediately after the foreign substance enters the body.

If the person bitten is allergic to wasp venom, the reaction to the bite may be unpredictable. You can distinguish an allergic reaction from a normal one by the location of the bite. The first thing that will confirm the guesses is large swelling, more than 1 cm in diameter. The further occurrence of reactions depends on the human body.

Interesting! Allergy sufferers are issued special passports indicating personal data, allergen tests and first aid measures.

Allergy symptoms also:

• rash;
• strong pain;
• burning, itching;
• hives.

In addition to local reactions, the following may appear:

• headache, dizziness;
• nausea;
• decrease in blood pressure;
• difficulties with the breathing apparatus;
• elevated temperature;
• pale skin;
• muscle spasm.

The manifestation of the listed symptoms can begin within 20 minutes after the sting.

Anaphylactic shock that develops within the first 5 minutes is a strong and dangerous reaction of the body. It begins with difficulty breathing and swelling of the larynx. If such a reaction occurs, immediate medical attention must be provided. Prednisolone and adrenaline are administered, and a tourniquet is applied above the wound. Further treatment is carried out in a hospital setting.

Precautionary measures

The most dangerous period of time, when there are many female wasps, is the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. It is during this period that they collect pollen from flowers and store food for the winter. Large concentrations of these insects can be found in the forest. Aspen nests are located on large trees. A person will be warned of danger by a not loud, but noticeable buzzing.

Attention! You should not approach the nest, much less disturb it with a stick for fun. In this case, the wasps will protect their home and a person will not get away with one bite

With several bites of these insects, a lethal dose of poison can be obtained even from small individuals

In this case, the person may not even be taken to the hospital, and it will no longer be so important whether the wasps left a sting or not.

Experts name several preventative measures:

• Clothes should be dark shades.
• The smell of perfumes and cosmetics repels these insects.
• You should not walk near aspen nests and it is better to avoid walking on the grass without shoes.
• It should be remembered that bees and other honey plants are attracted to sweets (spilled jam, open sweets, etc.)

If the operation at home was successful, then you should immediately treat the wounded area with hydrogen peroxide and go to the medical center. Removing the sting does not mean that the danger has passed. Most likely, the poison has already entered the bloodstream. Doctors will give directions for tests and prescribe the necessary medications.

In any case, a person should always be vigilant and closely monitor the activity of insects around. And then trouble can be avoided.

What do adults eat?

The diet of wasps is quite varied. Insects prefer fruit and berry juices and fruit pulp. Among their favorite fruits are raspberries, plums, apricots, strawberries, and grapes. Wasps try to avoid harder fruits whenever possible. Adults are very attracted to overripe fruits that have begun to ferment. Syrup, honey, jam and sugar are among the favorite products of winged sweet tooths. Wet sugar or fresh jam will inevitably attract many wasps into your apartment.

Some representatives of aspens at certain stages of their life cycle give preference to the young of various beetles, as well as some species of wasps. These predators are capable of exterminating even larger insects and can successfully hunt spiders of impressive size.

While feeding their larvae, adults hunt other insects and feed them chewed to their offspring. In the process of chewing the prey, the predator also consumes some of its hemolymph. Hemolymph is rich in protein and replenishes the energy reserves of the imago. Directly in the process of feeding and transferring food to the larva, the adult insect receives some of the saliva of the offspring, from where it takes the necessary substances for normal life. However, despite this, plant foods and sweets are preferable for imagoes. A danger to people is represented by wasps that appear out of nowhere in the apartment, flying to the aroma of food.

Nest arrangement

Bees build their hive from wax (they secrete it themselves), making strictly symmetrical honeycombs inside. Domestic bees live in special houses that beekeepers build for them. A hive of wild bees can be located in a hollow tree or in a crevice of a steep rock.

Wasps make their home from parchment, which is made by chewing wood or other plant cellulose. Their hive is round in shape, gray in color, and looks papery. Wasps attach the hive to the branches of a tree or the ceilings of rarely visited buildings, and sometimes they build it in the ground.

The nest of bumblebees is called a bombidarium; insects make it in burrows of small animals, hollows, and abandoned bird nests. Bumblebees, like bees, build the first cells of their nest with wax. To construct subsequent cells, they use capsules of already hatched larvae.

Distinctive characteristics

The ovipositor of a bee differs from that of a wasp in color: in the former insects it has a black, brown or gray tint, while in the latter there are bright yellow stripes. The wasp's sting is smooth and quickly comes out when pressed, while the bee's sting is jagged, making it difficult to move. Insects can sting in different ways, causing serious consequences: swelling, rash.

Gadflies are considered the most dangerous, as they bite off the skin of the victim, leaving eggs inside. Allergy sufferers need protection from hornets and bees. Doctors have proven that bee venom is beneficial for a healthy person. It not only normalizes blood pressure, but also strengthens the immune system, dissolving cholesterol, and having a positive effect on blood flow.

After stinging, the bee leaves part of the abdomen with internal organs on the victim, and later dies. It is difficult to remove a foreign body from the skin due to the presence of teeth.

Population and species status

Photo: Osa

Wasps are a necessary, useful and significant part of the fauna. Yes, they do not produce tasty honey like bees and even harm beekeeping. However, in other areas of life and in nature, they perform a very useful task - they destroy various pests. They catch small insects and feed them to their offspring. This has a beneficial effect on plants. Garden and vegetable plantings do not suffer from the paws of pests.

For example, wasps can help completely get rid of a pest such as a mole cricket. If there is a mole cricket in the area, it is enough to attract wasps with the help of flower plants. Ground wasps will very quickly “restore order” to the area. Wasps can also be used to combat borers and leaf beetles. The following species feed on these pests: wall, paper, big-headed, big-nosed. They can significantly reduce the number of harmful insects. This is the best way to combat them without using chemicals.

Representatives of the wasp species are numerous. They are common in many countries, multiply quickly, and are able to protect themselves. Therefore, the species is not threatened by the process of extinction or extinction. However, it is impossible to track the wasp population with great accuracy. These are small insects that often settle in hard-to-reach places. For this reason, accurate population data does not exist.

Stages of development

Wasps lay their larvae in such a way that they cannot fall out of the nest. This is also prevented by the thick body, which clogs the honeycomb like a cork in a bottle. The adult, after completing the pupation process, simply straightens and climbs out. The female uses a special substance to attach her egg to the honeycomb, which allows the small larva to remain safe. After she gets fat, she is kept in the nest by her large body mass and lack of waist.

The life cycle of the larva lasts about two weeks. Then a thick cocoon forms around it and the pupation stage begins. After 10-14 days, this stage also ends - an adult is born.

Wasps are not particularly fond of children. If difficult times of hunger come, adult insects eat the contents of the cocoons.

There is an interesting feature in the life of these pests. When the adult cannot obtain insects for food, the larva secretes nutrients to support the life of the colony members. In this way the number of individuals in the nest is regulated. This usually happens during cold weather and prolonged rainy weather.

If the homeowner decides to finally deal with the annoying and dangerous invaders, then he should take into account the peculiarities of the development of the larvae. Young wild wasps fly out of the nest a few weeks after the larvae emerge. This is necessary to determine the timing of re-treatment of the colony with chemicals. Only after disinfestation has been carried out 2-3 times can it be said that all insects have been destroyed.

Found a hive of wild wasps - prepare for bites

Many people believe that wasps attack only if they are provoked, for example, by hitting the nest or trying to catch an individual with your hands. But this is a misconception. Insects defend their territory; at the slightest visible danger, they fiercely defend their offspring and the hive. And if tactile contact with a pest accidentally occurs, it will immediately attack. Unfortunately, a wild wasp sting can cause serious harm to health, especially if the attack is widespread.

In addition to the fact that they can carry E. coli, you should be wary of the following troubles:

• Severe pain at the site of the bite.
• Severe tissue swelling (allergies)
• Increased body temperature.
• Obstruction of the airways.
• Tearing.
• Fever and weakness.
• Anaphylactic shock.

There are cases when a person simply died after being bitten by these dangerous insects, especially their overseas “brothers”. The thing is that wasps, for example hornets, release strong poison through their sting when they pierce the skin. Of course, they don’t want to kill us, it’s just that in the wild this is how they paralyze their prey. To alleviate the condition of the bitten person as much as possible, he is given an antihistamine and pain reliever.

Diet

Harmless and sluggish-looking wasp larvae are insectivores. They themselves are not able to hunt and get their own food, but they willingly eat parts of insects that are delivered to them by adults.

Depending on the species, there are differences between individuals:

• feed themselves;
• feed on social wasps.

The larvae of European and Asian hornets cannot feed without the help of adults and cannot actively move inside the nest. They only slightly rotate their heads looking out of the honeycomb. The diet of adult insects includes flower nectar, sweet berry and fruit juice. And the younger generation prefers animal food, which is chewed for them by wasps and delivered directly to the nest. The excrement remains inside the cocoon until it completely transforms into an adult insect. Having spread its wings, the young individual leaves the nest, and the workers remove the secretions.

After the autumn fertilization of the female, wild male wasps die. In the vast majority of cases, females prepare small nests in the form of a depression in the ground or a paper shelter that is attached to walls or trees. The adult attacks and paralyzes any insect with poison and delivers it to its shelter. This is where the wasp egg is laid. After hatching, the individual begins to feed on insects. She does this in such a way that the “food” remains viable for a long time.

What does a wasp larva eat:

• caterpillars;
• butterflies;
• cockroaches;
• slugs;
• bees;
• spiders;
• little mice;
• small lizards.

Each species prefers different types of insects for laying eggs. Some eat only spiders, others like bedbugs. Some wasps lay eggs directly into a living insect. As the larvae mature, they eat their prey from the inside. Over time, the insect dies, and the young, fully formed individual climbs out.

How does a bee sting?

When the bee's stinging apparatus comes into action, the sting pattern looks like this:

1. Preparing to be stung. At the moment of danger, the abdominal muscles contract and begin to act on the case, as a result of which it rises up. The abdomen itself bends at this moment. A sting appears from the case.
2. The moment when an insect stings. The abdomen begins to move down and then back. At this time, the tip of the bee’s sting, like a spear, pierces the skin of the victim, and poison is injected from the glands under it. The release of poison continues for several minutes. This is due to the fact that the sting has its own ganglion, which allows it to secrete a toxic substance autonomously, even while already in the body of the enemy. In this regard, the more time the sting is in the body, the greater the amount of toxins entering the body.
3. Self-tearing of the tip. If the sting does not occur, the weapon is pulled back into the sac-like chamber and closed with a case. If the insect stings the victim, then due to the jagged surfaces the sting gets stuck in the skin. Why does a bee die when it stings? Trying to pull out the stuck weapon, the insect begins to twitch violently, as a result of which the sting detaches itself. Together with it, other vital organs are torn out, and an open wound is formed. This leads to the death of the individual.

If, even in a rare case, an insect manages to pull out the sting and survive, it loses its poison and its activity, and ceases to be a full-fledged member of the bee family.

In the event of an allergic reaction to bee products, the sting of even one insect can lead to serious and dangerous consequences.