It is time. Yes, that is the phrase that is going through my mind as we transition from sweet summer to early fall. You’re probably wondering, “What is it time for?” Well, it’s time for me to get terrorized by yellow jackets everywhere I seem to go. Each year it seems to get worse. Either that or I am just sick of them. Regardless, they aren’t going away soon and it’s just a part of northeast Ohio, and that’s where I live.  So, since these nasty creatures are going to be a part of my surroundings (especially when I love to sit on my porch), I figured I would do some investigating as to why they seem to go berserk this time of year.

 

Yellow jackets! You know the light yellow and black insects that most people refer to as bees. Some call them wasps; some call them hornets. I call them everything under the sun that’s not very nice when I am swatting them to get away from me. According to AI, “a yellow jacket is a predatory social wasp, known for its distinctive black and yellow (or sometimes white and black) markings, and its ability to sting multiple times. These insects build paper-like nests, often underground or in aerial locations like buildings, and are important predators of other insects.” First of all, social is not a word I want to hear. However, that basically just means that these insects stay together, build together, and I truly believe “tag-team” to get me out of my chair! The stinging multiple times really concerns me, and I fear for anyone who is allergic to their sting.

Two years ago, my husband was stung at football practice. He’s been stung before and maybe had some swelling, but this time it was different. Pestworld.org says, “They [ yellow jackets]  can sting multiple times, and their stings can be very painful. People who are allergic to their venom could have a severe reaction, and it is possible to become hypersensitive to yellowjackets after being stung.” This obviously was the case for my husband. He seemed fine, but when he went to practice the next day, he showed the trainer his arm. It was like his muscle underneath was nothing but hanging flab. She immediately sent him to the emergency room. I didn’t think anything of it, but he was diagnosed with cellulitis. According to Medical News Today, cellulitis can develop from an insect bite because of the bacteria that enters through the skin. I just didn’t know how dangerous that could be if left alone. That bacteria can get into your blood and then cause a lot of problems–like serious, possibly fatal problems. My husband was in emergency for almost four hours while they gave him anti-biotics, high doses of Pepcid which is used as an antihistamine, and sent him home with steroids. My goodness! Of course, I am a nervous wreck from now until the end of October because these yellow jackets are just everywhere–even on the football field.

So my question is…why are they so crazy this time of year? I decided to do a little research and many of my questions were answered. Here’s what I found from the Rescue Smarter Pest Control website:

1. This time of year, the yellow jackets nests are majorly over-crowded. There can be up to 5,000 yellow jackets in the nest, so it sounds like “move it or lose it.” Many get pushed out and really have nowhere to go. Sorry; I’m not feeling bad for them. The queen bee dies! So a new queen emerges and she is busy finding a place to live through the winter.
2. They are just simply hungry, or HANGRY if you have it. That’s why they tend to hang around garbage cans and the Canfield fair ( I hate dealing with them there.) I feel so bad for people selling lemon shakes. They are surrounded by these pests all day. This makes sense because with flowers beginning to die and no more buds, they are looking for sweet treats and fermenting fruits. That equals–lemons and sugar. Yellow jackets change their diet so-to-speak. They like protein in May and June, and the sweet stuff in August and September. Plus, since the queen bee dies, there is no more feeding on the larvae for the eggs. So basically the yellow jacket is on his own. I’m picturing them singing the Eagles song Desperado because they are for sure looking for food and starving.
3. They know their time is up. Yellow jackets can sense the end of the season. The days are shorter, cooler, and just like us they can smell fall. Yellow jackets thrive in the hot weather. That’s why you see them on sunny days. And that makes sense because the football field with its turf is super hot. That’s why they swarm there. But these insects have an expiration date, and they know it. 

I was sitting at the Canfield football game on Friday, and I knew there were going to be yellow jackets. I made sure I didn’t put on any perfume, but once this lady came and sat down, the yellow jackets invaded. Her perfume smelled good, but they are attracted to sweet scents, and that sealed the deal. Here we go! Since they were buzzing around us, I couldn’t totally blame her. There were two who were trying to land on my water bottle. So I looked that up and this too makes sense. AI says that yellow jackets are looking for water especially if it’s dry out. Well, this summer has been so dry and the 14 day forecast has no rain in sight. My water bottle must have looked so tempting.

 

Although we here in Ohio tend to love fall and especially sunny, beautiful days within this season, to me, it brings nothing but grief and angst. The football game Friday, remember? I was so angry that they were swarming, I got my purse to bash them, and I hit the head of the lady in front of me. Of course, I apologized, but I couldn’t wait to get home where I knew I was safe from these creatures.

In a perfect world, well my perfect world, there would be no time change in November, warm temperatures, sunny everyday, and NO YELLOW JACKETS! Someone might say you just belong in Florida. They are absolutely correct, and guess what? I have yet to be tortured by a yellow jacket when I’m there. Now alligators and panthers … .well that will have to be a different article!