Wasps In The Field?

[Aneides]

Has anyone had any encounters with wasps when looking for salamanders in Northern California? It is becoming a hazard when I go flipping in forested areas. I have been stung on two different occasions at two different locations. One includes a location at a relatively low elevation, which has been good for various species. Another was at a stream location which seemed prime for Dicamptodon ensatus. Any reports or advice will help.

Sincerely,
Aneides

 

[FrogEyes]

I've found them to be a nuisance in the hotter parts of Oregon and Washington, but ONLY a nuisance. While I haven't been stung by ANY, I am more concerned about the larger and more aggressive yellowjackets here than the paper wasps in the northwest. The paper wasps have only personally bothered me in order to drink the sweat from my clothes or skin. Otherwise I have also found them sitting on the surface of the slower parts of streams, again getting water where they can on hot days. I've turned them up under wooden debris as well, and beat a hasty retreat before I could find out if I'd actually aggravated them.

I think a good way to deal with the paper wasps might be to pour them a drink of water - literally. Yellowjackets might be distracted by an offering of juice or soda, as long as they can't smell it anywhere on or about you as well.

 

[Martin21114]

I had one fly up my shorts and sting the little German right on his helmet. I ranked the pain just above broken ankle but below kidney stone...

 

[Nowicki418]

Even in MI those wasps dive straight towards you. Very annoying but I don't get stung that often.
My biggest worry is the biting flies. They just don't give up. I was filming some frogs ( very close to them ) and had to allow a group of biting flies to attack me, less I scare the frog away. Flies hurt, but a swarm of wasps would be a nightmare!