Anyone been stung by a paper wasp? (Scottsdale: apartment complex, living)

[ElleTea]

I see these in my pool. Not a lot of them, usually it seems like one or 2 here and there. I think it is cool to watch them land on the water, makes me wonder if someone was watching one many years ago and got the idea to make an aircraft that can land on the water!


I don't kill them. In fact, if one happens to land wrong and get stuck in the water, I will grab my net and scoop them out. They shake off the water and fly away. I will even try to keep the water calm if I see one trying to land. They are just thirsty!


I have never seen one that was aggressive or even seems to care that I am there. I stay out of their way, they seem to stay out of mine. I have had one land on me by mistake, but I shake them off and off they go. I also scoop out bees though they don't survive as often as wasps do once they get wet. Bees can't dry off as easily it would seem. Flies? Let 'em drown LOL

[gemstone1]

I always thought they were Mud Daubers....Mud Daubers are most often iridescent black.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by gsm113

I had this wasp problem a few years ago. What I learned was they are collecting water for their nest.

Your local pool store should have a bottle of wasp repellent you can pour in the pool which will decrease the surface tension of the water, preventing the wasps from being able to land on the surface. I don't think it's a harmful chemical. We used it and it worked. The wasps would try to land and then fly away when they realize they can't. Eventually the learn not to come to your pool.

Do you recall what this is called? A google search turned up nothing. Thanks.

[kell490]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

I see these in my pool. Not a lot of them, usually it seems like one or 2 here and there. I think it is cool to watch them land on the water, makes me wonder if someone was watching one many years ago and got the idea to make an aircraft that can land on the water!


I don't kill them. In fact, if one happens to land wrong and get stuck in the water, I will grab my net and scoop them out. They shake off the water and fly away. I will even try to keep the water calm if I see one trying to land. They are just thirsty!


I have never seen one that was aggressive or even seems to care that I am there. I stay out of their way, they seem to stay out of mine. I have had one land on me by mistake, but I shake them off and off they go. I also scoop out bees though they don't survive as often as wasps do once they get wet. Bees can't dry off as easily it would seem. Flies? Let 'em drown LOL

They building a nest that is why they pickup water in a pool.


I got stung back in July washing a car early in the morning felt some burning on my back I saw it fly away. Took my shirt off and my wife saw a welt with a hole in the middle. I guess it was on my back all the moving around washing stung me. It came back again I shot down with the hose and finished him off with my bare foot I have really calloused feet that wasp didn't have a chance. The sting didn't hurt that bad I think a bee sting is worse or a scorpion then the wasp it was really mild. My skin is kind of on the tough side so most of the time I don't feel it. When I get blood drawn I don't feel anything.

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

lol

Well, the wasp larvae are what eat the tarantulas, not the wasp that attacks the tarantulas. What they do is sting the tarantula, which paralyzes it, then they lay eggs in it, which literally eat the tarantula alive.

You had to make it worse didn't you...

[chaparrito]

I grew up in Phoenix in the 50-60s. There have always been wasps like the one pictured. Untrimmed palm trees are a favorite nest location.

[jimj]

Minding my own business working on a car, stood up and got stung on the side of my NOSE!
Yes, it did hurt like **#&^%^% ...... heck.

[gsm113]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Do you recall what this is called? A google search turned up nothing. Thanks.

So I guess it's an algaecide with a side effect of deterring wasps.

https://www.amazon.com/Biodex-Labora.../dp/B00C7UFYZC


Read some of the top reviews. A lot of people are buying this for the wasps, not to kill algae!

I'm sure your local pool store carries this too.

[Jack Hallam]

In AZ known as Paper Wasps, have them every year landing in the pool,12 years of kids and grandkids and never a sting, I’ve had to remove a few of their grey paper nests under patio and roof eves. PS these are not Yellowjackets, lots of them in the high country, they have a black and yellow striped butt, I have been stung by them while hiking.

[Potential_Landlord]

I had a nasty pool problem with pigeons drinking while clawing on to the stone feature. Where they drink they also poop. Took me a long time to deter them with spikes etc. Nasty flying rats, finally gone. For some reason they don't want to take a batch in the water while drinking (they can swim obviously), but they want to stay dry.