It's the time of year when wasps are everywhere... even if you're outside enjoying a barbecue. Weyburn is abuzz with some noticing a sudden increase of wasps around their homes and yards, which is creating some hassle for those looking to avoid a sting.

According to James Tansey, PhD, Provincial Entomologist with the Ministry of Agriculture, the wasps are simply packing up resources for the winter.

"The relatively large numbers that we're seeing here this year maybe relative to last year, I suspect that's more to do with the amount of prey items," Tansey explained. "So, bald-faced hornets and yellow jackets, and some of the other stinging wasps are going to feed on aphids, and some other insect prey, so lots of prey can lead to relative increases in numbers."

As for how to deter them from your living areas, the fake paper nests work well with some species, but they're going to be most effective when the queens are setting up their colonies.

"Setting up after the fact, I don't think that's going to have much of an effect once that colony is set up," Tansey noted. "And another important thing to consider, too is, some do nest in cavities, some nest in the ground. We do have a relative diversity of stinging wasps in the province."

He said for those who are particularly disturbed by wasps, it can help to remove any alluring temptations such as odors, or to seal off potential nesting sites like crevices on your property. While wasps are in winter foraging mode, however, he said they are particularly attracted to meat.

"The animal is really not interested in messing with you if you don't mess with it. And I find, even when they're scavenging aggressively, they're really not interested in you, they're just interested in what you're eating. So, take away what's drawing them, they really won't have any interest in you," explained Tansey. "They are really curious this time of year because they are foraging pretty aggressively, so you might see one flying around your face or flying around your body. If you just react calmly, it'll probably just move on its way."

If you are unable to get a wasp away from you, Tansey said you'd know the difference between a bite and a sting due to the level of pain each causes.

"So the stinging wasps are mandibulate animals, so they have mandibles, they can bite, but the bite won't be any worst than if a small child tried to pinch you," he explained. "Where they really pack their punch is with their sting. And the stinger is actually what's called a modified ovipositor. So primitive wasps use this to lay their eggs, either into plants or into prey items. And for the stinging wasps, these just deliver venom."

He said the stinger is, essentially, a needle that delivers venom. Unlike the honeybees, he said, who sting once and cause a good deal of pain, wasps can sting repeatedly.

"And some will, if you get into a panic situation, say if the animal is stuck in your shirt or something like that, it will sting you repeatedly," Tansey warned.

He noted stinging wasps have a reason for their sting.

"A thing to consider with the stinging wasps, like yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets, is they have a tendency to tag you," he said. "If one of them stings you, they're tagging you with what's called an alarm pheromone. And this is going to alert their sisters from the colony that there's a potential threat to the colony and it can be addressed by seeking out this smell."

He added the alarm pheromone is relatively long-lasting.

"I've heard reports of it lasting up to 12 hours," he shared.

He said if you are stung, you may want to wash the site with soap and water to try to eliminate the alarm pheromone and avoid a repeat sting.