European Wasp Warning

Around 33% of Australian hospital admissions are for bee or wasp stings. These stings account for more than twice the number of hospital admissions for snake bites, and cause almost the same number of deaths.

European Wasp Warning

Around 33% of Australian hospital admissions are for bee or wasp stings. These stings account for more than twice the number of hospital admissions for snake bites, and cause almost the same number of deaths.

Can you guess which of Australia’s many venomous animal species is the most threatening to humans? If you guessed snakes, then you’d be off the mark. If you guessed spiders, then you’d be close; the culprit is also an invertebrate and similar in size. The correct answer to this question is bees and wasps. According to a study on envenomation conducted by the University of Melbourne’s Australian venom unit—a work that spanned 13 years and analysed almost 42,000 hospital admissions – 33% of them were for bee or wasp stings. These stings accounted for more than twice the number of hospital admissions for snake bites, and caused almost the same number of deaths. Insect bites can be deadly serious, especially when they trigger severe allergic reactions. The Journal of Asthma and Allergy estimates that 5% to 7.5% of people will experience severe allergic reaction to an insect sting in their lifetime. The reaction is known familiarly as anaphylaxis, an allergic response to an antigen that can cause the body to flood its own immune system with chemicals and go into a state of anaphylactic shock. In this article, the European wasp is in the spotlight. This is an invasive species that makes its presence felt in Australia mostly during Autumn. Let's take a look at the European wasp’s physical characteristics and behaviours, and the risks arising from their stings. We'll discuss how to identify and treat symptoms of stings and tips for intervention, such as contacting wildlife or pest control experts and taking a first aid course to learn more about anaphylaxis management.

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