Sunday, July 27, 2025

Yellowjackets

 The Wise Woman and I were walking through the park when the enormous dog disturbed an underground nest of southern yellowjackets, Vespula squamosa.

I was on the other end of the leash and saw the swarm rise. I’d been stung by yellowjackets before but had never seen a swarm rise. The density of insects coming out of an inch-wide hole in the ground is hard to describe.

Researchers at Texas A&M University say nests can contain 4,000 workers.

The Wise Woman escaped, and my efforts to get the yellowjackets off the dog were mostly successful. He came out better than I did. I think I was stung 18 times. I’m taking it easy for a day or two.

at

2 comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Listening to the bells

  Harper’s  has a piece about the controversy in England over the new rules for bell ringing. When I was a young man, I once sat outside wit...

  • When Willa Cather's life began
     Willa Cather had a maxim: “Life began for me when I ceased to admire and began to remember.” She liked what the Greeks called  anamnesis , ...
  • After the election
      People who are disappointed by elections ought to be careful about what they say — not out of fear of tyrants but out of concern for sprea...
  • Captain Sands of Deephaven
     Captain Sands, an old seafarer, is “a great hand for keeping things.” His wife doesn’t mind all his clutter — as long as it stays out of th...