Invasion of wasps began on Russian cities: how to avoid problems

The season of watermelons, melons and berries has begun in Central Russia. Scientists warn of an increase in the number of wasps flocking to sweets, especially in large cities. Insects have already chosen gourd breakups, markets, and also beaches where vacationers like to eat fruit. And since August, according to forecasts of meteorologists, will be hot, the population of hornets will also grow – rare but dangerous guests in the middle lane.

Where can you meet biting insects, how to avoid contact with them and how to be treated if the wasp still stings, MK found out.

Muscovites, residents of the Moscow region, the Kaluga region complain about the invasion of wasps this year. Insects are extremely annoying and aggressive. “It’s impossible to lie on the beach, there’s a whole swarm of wasps around, they constantly sit on their hands, then on their legs, they behave completely unceremoniously,” says Olga, a resident of Chernogolovka. “We have several wasps in our apartment in the morning. I was going to work, and on the way one of the donkeys sat on my forehead, bit me and flew on,” says Ekaterina, a Muscovite.

Elena, who has a dacha in the south of the Moscow region, says that on the weekend she went with her daughter to the forest – her daughter was bitten by two wasps, a few more were bitten by a dog, and she herself was bitten in the heel. Moreover, she almost stepped into a hornet’s nest. “It’s about half a meter in diameter, there are thousands of insects in it,” she says in horror.

But Natalya from Moscow was less fortunate: they went on a quiet hunt near Kirzhach. “I bent over the mushroom, after which I felt several bites and realized that I had stepped on the nest. She ran headlong! They followed me for several meters. Five pieces were bitten in the head, tangled in the hair. They bit their hands a few, and three pieces climbed into tight jeans and bit their legs. How they did it is a mystery. I had thick socks, boots, a jacket and a raincoat. Well, at least I don’t have allergies!”

Alas, wasp stings are far from harmless. The consequences can be very serious, up to death. This can happen even to people who have never had allergic reactions, and yet allergy sufferers are at risk in the first place. Bees, wasps, and hornets sting in self-defense. With their bite, poison enters the human body, consisting of proteins and other components that are strong allergens, so in most cases the skin responds to the introduction of these substances with redness, pain and swelling. Moreover, the reaction to the ingress of poisons of these insects into the body is very fast (20 minutes or less).

What needs to be done? Immediately after the bite, you must carefully, slowly, pull out the sting if it remains in the wound. Then, for disinfection, apply a cotton swab moistened with calendula tincture, hydrogen peroxide or an alcohol-containing liquid. To relieve swelling and prevent its development, apply ice to the bite site. You can also use a piece of raw, halved potato or tomato, or put chopped parsley leaves on the affected area – this will help eliminate pain and swelling. To prevent an allergic reaction, it is best to take an antihistamine – any that is on hand.

However, if an insect has stung in the mouth, face or head, having provided first aid to the victim, it is imperative to call an ambulance, because such a bite can cause suffocation. Also, qualified assistance should be resorted to if swelling or rash spreads to various parts of the body, swelling of the face, dizziness or headache, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and chest pain.

“If you are allergic, and you have previously experienced reactions to insect bites, you need to be extremely careful. Don’t go barefoot, don’t wear brightly colored or black clothes, don’t use strong-smelling perfumes or deodorants – all these attract wasps and bees, as well as the smell of sweat. Do not leave food and drinks open at picnics, especially on beaches or in the woods. If a wasp or bee comes into your line of sight, don’t move or try to chase it away – most insects sting when they feel threatened. Avoid repeated bites – each subsequent reaction can be harder than the previous one. In case of a pronounced reaction, you should additionally apply a tourniquet to the bite site (if it is an arm or leg), remove the sting, apply ice and consult a doctor immediately. Be sure to discuss with the doctor which drugs should be additionally used when the situation repeats, ”allergist-immunologist Irina Mozgareva told MK.

“This year, wasps and hornets have been present in Moscow in sufficient numbers since spring,” says Yury Gninenko, head of the laboratory for protecting forests from invasive and quarantine species of the All-Russian Research Institute of Forestry and Forestry Mechanization, candidate of biological sciences. – Well, as soon as watermelons, melons, berries appear, the number of wasps in the city increases even more. But not even because the insect population is rising on its own. Previously, wasps and hornets were not too noticeable to people: there was little sweet in the city, and you and I didn’t see insects much. And now they have approached the collapse and the counters. There was more food – and there were more wasps.

– How do the wasps understand that the trade in sweet fruits and berries has begun in the city?

– They have a well-developed sense of smell, they think well. Wasps live in the city, we just don’t always see them. I’ll tell you this – they can even live near Red Square, in the Alexander Garden. There are trees, shelters where you can hide. Wasps can find a hole in a parked car, crawl through and settle in the cabin. The owner of the car will not immediately notice the uninvited guests.

The main thing for a person is to avoid direct contact with these insects, the scientist recommends. If you find a hornet’s nest on a balcony, loggia, or cottage, you don’t need to do anything on your own – call a specialized service. By and large, if you do not climb into this nest, nothing will threaten you. “I also had a hornet’s nest under the balcony overhang,” says Yuri Gninenko. “Of course, I didn’t go there myself, I called the specialists.

Hymenoptera are habitual inhabitants of our fields, forests, meadows. Wasps live everywhere. But there is one type of the most dangerous Asian hornet, which is rare in Moscow and in central Russia, but can also fly to visit. He is very large and aggressive. Bites painfully, hunts bees. Yuri Gninenko says that this year he did not hear about his arrival in our region. But it’s better to be ready.

– Why do wasps or bees bite a particular person from the crowd? Does he attract them?

– Exactly. Perhaps this person has just eaten sweet food, or is eating it right now, or smeared his hand in sweet. The second bait for stinging insects is the sudden movements of a person. If he waves his arms, grabs insects, they will perceive this solely as aggression. Maybe the person himself is emotional, gesticulates strongly when communicating with friends. But the insect perceives such movements, loud sounds as aggression directly in relation to it. It is not surprising that the wasp in this case is likely to make a retaliatory attack. So if you see wasps circling around melons in the market, do not stop them from circling. Remember that they are dangerous. Just step aside.

– Should we expect a significant increase in the population of wasps and hornets in August?

– I hope that the disaster will not happen. The number of insects, I think, will fluctuate around the average level.