By Thomas Doucet

To Your Health

To Your Health: Wasp Stings

Oct 11, 2022 | 1:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — “I don’t want to make them angry but they are already angry,” Said Caden Fanshaw as a wasp buzzed around his head.

You have probably said those words yourself before. Wasps fly around you when you are minding your own business and causing mayhem in your life. Contrary to popular belief, wasps are not here just to ruin your day.

“So you notice some more just because you are interacting with more of them than at the beginning of the season. In the spring any given nest might just have a handful or so of wasps in it. Now we’re talking big nests full of lots of wasps and in fact, the wasps at this point are making their reproductive choice for next year. So the queens and the drones that will meet and the queens that will produce next year’s nest. So that’s everything we’ve worked for, for the entire summer. So then they also become more aggressive because of protecting their genetic investment for the next year,” says Dr. Dezene Huber

Wasps like to nest in trees, attics and on the edges of sheds and garages. Typically they only nest in a location for one year so if you see a nest out of the way it is best to leave it alone. If it is in a location that could be potentially harmful to people, professional help may be your best bet.

On Demand

February 27, 2026: CKPG News on Demand

8h ago

Public Art

New mural for the Conference and Civic Centre

12h ago

Voices & Culture Summit is more than a conference its creates a place of belonging in the North

14h ago

“Because the nest is important to the wasp, not itself and so if it’s stinging you, it’s because there’s a perceived threat to the nest. When it stings you, wasps typically don’t have barb stings, unlike honey bees so they can sting several times and they can inject venom into you on several of those things as well. The venom is meant to be painful because you know that they’ve evolved to try to inflict pain, to keep whatever predators may be coming after the nest away. Wasps also can produce alarm pheromones. So when one attacks you, they will produce an alarm pheromone that says, Hey, here’s an enemy, and that might bring in other wasps as well,” said Dr. Huber

If you do get stung by a wasp for most people a cold compress is the appropriate treatment but for those with allergies a shot of epinephrine and a trip to the emergency room may be required. So if you encounter a wasp or its nest just walk away.