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Wasp

Photo by Tukup
Published on Project Noah
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-2.15, -77.69

Field Notes

Description:

Medium sized 6-10 cm black wasps with cinnamon or reddish wings.

Habitat:

Their nests are round and usually completely covered with wasps. This one was on the mission station in Makuma in the Amazon rainforest of SE Ecuador.

Notes:

I hit a softball sized nest with the tractor tire while mowing. I saw it the instant I hit it. The wasps rose in a cloud, not unlike in the cartoons, and did everything but form an arrow as they descended on me. We figure I was stung over 100 times. Within an hour I had stomach cramps to where I couldn't sit up. Being in the middle of the jungle far from doctors, my wife and I treated it with prayer and antihistamine. I was 3 days recovering from it. Needless to say, they are very aggressive.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

Thankis. I was surprised that it didn't affect me at first. I got back on the tractor and continued mowing. Within 1/2 hour I could no longer sit on the seat. If I had got the antihistamine immediately, it might not have gotten so bad. Stings don't bother me so I figured it was no big deal. Wrong!! :-)
That is the weirdest-looking nest. It must have been a very frightening and painful experience, and one you were very fortunate to survive. Thanks for sharing your story and wonderful photos.

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