Wasps are aggressive all year, but they're especially belligerent in fall!
Sometimes it hurts to be the Port biologist.
I (luckily) just finished leading a tour at one of our habitat sites when I unknowingly walked right into a swarming nest of ground wasps. I had just enough time to register that the ground was moving before they attacked!
I felt a searing pain right on my bee-hind. Ouch.
I learned the hard way that wasps are especially aggressive this time of year when their colonies reach peak size, food is scarce, and they’re fiercely defending the new queens in the nest.
To avoid getting stung (and becoming the butt of a joke), keep an eye out for ground nests. These appear as small mounds of dirt with a hole in the center—usually ½ to 1 inch in diameter—that wasps fly in and out of. Nests may be located near fruit trees or berry bushes, as wasps feed on sugary foods. If you need to work near a nest, keep in mind that wasps are less active at night and tend to stay underground repairing the nest.
Keep an eye out for ground nests!
The first few frosts will kill most of the colony, except for the newly mated queens who leave to hibernate. Until then, the stinging threat remains!
Wasps may be jerks, but they’re also helpful—they eat garden pests (also jerks) and contribute to pollination.
In case you also find yourself with a pain in the bee-hind, here’s some helpful information for treating stings: Remedies for Wasp Stings: How to Treat at Home and When to See a Doctor