h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm terrified of wasps! Evil creatures that sting just for the hell of it! Nasty horrible things! Not at all like the bee, bees are nice.

When I was just 4 years old I was stung from head to foot by wasps from a wild bike/nest. My mother was picking them out of my clothes and hair and everywhere! I've also injured myself further at times when in a blind panic running away from them.

Prideth

I have not been injured like that, but wasps make me panic! I have no understanding at all for the people who insists on eating lunch in the garden in the late summer. Every time they laugh and say something along the lines of ....no, there are no wasps...see...you are imagening things.... and what happens? Five minuts after you sit down it is there! And it wont give up! This is terrible. The worst part is the people laughing at you. I have learned to controll this to the degree where I can sit still - at least as long as it stays a bit away from me - but i am frozen like a statue, cannot move. I do not have to see the animal, the sound is very disinct. Terrible creatures!

Cissdur

well I don't know why bees are nice...

I am absolutely scared out of my wits by wasps, bees, hornets, bumble bees and anything coming in my vicinity going buzz....

I become a champion cross-country runner :-S

I'm right there with you Cissdur! I can always hear them long before I see them too, which makes me panic even more, as I can't keep track of where the little ers are! They seem to seek out people and other animals that are afraid of them. I think it's something to do with the chemicals which we release when we're terrified. It's like a "come sting me" signal.

Bees generally speaking, with a few exceptions such as African Killer Bees, and bees that have been hybridised by humans to hone their aggressive tendencies, are not anywhere near as agressive. They will only sting when they or their nest is threatened, and not just for the sheer hell of it as wasps do. I know this because I've handled Red-backed Bumble Bees without any protection from gloves, etc. We had to move the entrance to their nest, as a new dyke/wall was being built right over it. The only way to get them to start using the new entrance was to catch them (gently) and put them down it and close it for a few minutes so that they knew it was still their own nest, just a different entrance. Not once were they at all agressive, so that is why I say bees are nice. Plus they make yummy honey!

Prideth