Actually On-Topic: Can wasps smell their own corpses?

[Botch]

This has been a great weekend: two great cooking classes from a world-class chef (handmade pastas and sauces) Thurs and Fri nights, cute co-students, two of whom I got phone numbers from; two great rides up Ogden Canyon and Monte Cristo, one ride deviated and went into Wyoming, another ride into Salt Lake City this morning for a massage and a great brunch, and a relaxing afternoon doing piddly poop around the house today.

Me and my FZ took a LOT of bugs this weekend, poor Fizzer needs a bath pretty bad. One thing I noticed all day today: there were a bunch of wasps and bees hanging around the front of my bike. I didn't get stung at all, but also noticed they'd approach my jacket, gloves and helmet after I sat down too.

Can they detect, and are they attracted to, the splattered remains of their brethren? I realize this is a weird post, but it's got me curious. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[wrightme43]

Yes I believe they release a danger or attacker pherome and others can respond to it. Looking for verification now.

 

[wrightme43]

It is always best to avoid unnecessary stings. Should a yellowjacket wasp fly near you or land on your body, never swing or strike at it or run rapidly away since quick movements often provoke attack and painful stings. When a wasp is near you, slowly raise your hands to protect your face remaining calm and stationary for a while and then move very slowly (avoid stepping on the ground nest), backing out through bushes or moving indoors to escape. Wasps and bees can fly about six to seven miles per hour so humans can outrun them. However, by the time one starts running, there could quickly be a dozen or so painful stings caused by the rapid movement. There is an old saying that "one who stands still and shoots an aerial nest with a shotgun need not fear, instead it is the person that rapidly runs away who gets all the stings." Never strike, swing or crush a wasp or bee against your body since it could incite nearby yellowjackets into a frenzied attack. Wasp venom contains a chemical "alarm pheromone," released into the air, signaling guard wasps to come and sting whomever and whatever gets in their way. Unfortunately, many serious accidents have resulted when one runs away from attacking wasps and into the path of automobiles. When a bee or wasp gets into a moving car, remain calm. They almost never sting when in enclosed spaces as a car or house. Instead, they fly against windows. Slowly and safely pull over off the road, open the windows and allow the escape.
Be careful not to cut weeds or

 

[FlyguyCFI]

Remember only africanized bees will swarm. The majority of bees are not africanized (from my limited knowledge from Discovery Channel) so I wouldnt freak out too much.

It the do swarm, well, sucks for you.:thumbdown:

 

[Hutchmaster34]

God i hate bees man just reading this makes me cringe just killed a ground nest of yellow jackets the other day using super spray adhesive lol they just kept landing in the spray and getting stuck had to be well over 50 of the damn things

 

[wrightme43]

LOL thats great.

I have zero problems with bees, black wasps, and mud daubers.

Yellow jackets, hornets, and red wasps are on my kill horribly after they go to sleep list.
Screw them things right in their little wasp pooper.

Bees are cool though.

 

[abraxas]

I've never had problems YET .....

What i did see the other day at the local spares place, is a kind of whistle. NO batteries, it just sits there and emits a noise as you ride, advertised to dissuade life from moving into your path.

Got no idea whether it works or not?

 

[grumpy1luvs2eat]

Wrightme43 has it in one. Be aware that you can get swarmed/ stung when this happens. Wash the wasps off your ride and spray your gear with repellant to avoid contact, GRUMPY

 

[grumpy1luvs2eat]

Remember only africanized bees will swarm. The majority of bees are not africanized (from my limited knowledge from Discovery Channel) so I wouldnt freak out too much.

It the do swarm, well, sucks for you.:thumbdown:

WRONG! Any bee or wasp can swarm, again has to do with pheromones, GRUMPY

 

[Kilbane83]

What i did see the other day at the local spares place, is a kind of whistle. NO batteries, it just sits there and emits a noise as you ride, advertised to dissuade life from moving into your path.

Got no idea whether it works or not?

Not sure about one for insects, but they make whistle like things for deers and other various wildlife that you just mount so wind flows through it. It's above the human hearing spectrum so you can't hear anything, like a dog whistle. It works in theory and tests well enough.. but if it works at high speed I don't know.. doubt it.

 

[Nelly]

Great smoke screen camouflage post Botch, pretending that you were asking about bugs. When all along you were giving it the large about getting a couple of hot numbers lol.
To answer your question the bees were smelling the pheromones pouring out of your body LOL.

Nelly

PS I have some great pasta recipes (being an ex Michelin chef).