jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 8, 2013 20:12:07 GMT -5
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 8, 2013 21:08:41 GMT -5
I slapped a tarantula hawk by accident that had landed on my arm one time. That one's up there all right. I'd add Velvet Ant to the list. There's a reason some folks call them "cow killers" in some regions. Their stings are really painful! Cicada Killer is bad too. I had the experience of laying down on one in Oklahoma one time. Stung me in the back and that smarted big time. I also have a severe reaction to the stuff reduvids (conenoses) squirt into their bites too. Friggin feels just lie a scorpion sting to me and burns like heck. I've had a few of the others too. Get "far anted" so often I'm kind of used to them now but when they get far enough up yore leg before they start stinging, it's still a thriller, and that's another one that itches like Hell for days afterwards *L*.....Mel
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 8, 2013 21:42:18 GMT -5
I think the only two I've been stung by on that list are yellow jackets and bald faced hornets. They both hurt. I always thought a honey bee had a more mild sting, but I've never been stung by one that I know of.
I heard that the giant water bug (toe biter) had the worst bite. I think stings might be in a different category than bites though. My daughter's biology teacher said he let one bite him to see how bad it was. He said he's not going to do it again. He also stopped eating live ants in class after being bitten in the process. They still have a bug cook out every year though.
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Post by Toad on Sept 9, 2013 2:44:04 GMT -5
Fortunately, I haven't had much experience with many bites/stings - nothing stands out anyway...
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 7:55:16 GMT -5
Paper wasps inflict the most stings in the south land. Followed by yellow jackets.
Rob, the yellow jacket deserves respect. They are so organized and attack in mass.
Also, an important issue w/wasps and yellow jackets that gives them and strong edge:
"Yes, they can sting you more than once because their stinger is not barbed like bees and therefore can't stick to you with one sting but can be used for repeated stingings..."
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 7:56:54 GMT -5
Your lucky to be alive Mel. I am sure you have had plenty of run-ins w/bugs as a Biologist no doubt. In all different environments. Welcome to the plain ole paper wasp. This is a hot headed wasp most common in Florida swamp edges.This wasp builds huge nests and is deadly for boaters. This is one of many miles a capillaries off the Oklawaha River in central Florida. These nests are about every 100-200 feet along the shore.Great alligator habitat. If you piss off those wasps you best forget about the alligators and jump in. Dark spot ahead!!!Slooooow down  Let's see how close we can get.(i am ready to jump in any second) When you get close enough they start to stand up on their hind legs-watch out then!!  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 8:20:01 GMT -5
Fortunately, I haven't had much experience with many bites/stings - nothing stands out anyway... Toad-Of course you co not have a problem with bees |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2013 10:12:13 GMT -5
I love Sonoran Toads! Big females like that are huuuuuge!
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 9, 2013 12:01:19 GMT -5
*L* We had a big thundershower yesterday so I took a long hike this morning. Along the way I spotted a huge nest of harvester ants all out foraging. Got to say I was so tempted to try to get one to sting me just to see how bad they are but then said NAHHHH!, I don't think so. *L*. I read last night that velvet ant stings are 20 times worse than a bee and harvester ants are like way way worse than that, so I chickened out.....Mel
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 12:56:08 GMT -5
When i was a kid i stayed on Amelia Island summers at by Mema's house back when it was a fishing/shrimping village. I got stung by the harvester from the age of 6-21. They are a unique pain. i can clearly describe it. Because we defined it back in the day. Let a paper wasp sting you, wait 5 seconds,then hold that pain level for 3 days. Or, 1/2 of a paper wasp sting for 3 days. You will hardly sleep. The nagging pain will make you nauseated. It is at a level that it will stay on you mind even when you are active and moving around. We wanted to play and go on the beach just across the street.NOT. You were down for the count. The nests in Florida were smallish with very small mound. They had no black, all orange. Great to watch. Can carry a lot of weight-super strong. "Foraging Characteristics: Large dull, reddish-brown ants. Many sized workers, though largest workers are rare. Head square. Carpenter ants of the same size will be shinier and bicolored, while harvester ants are dull and uniform in coloration. Painful sting, although ant is not aggressive(BULL). Foragers leave nest in long trunk trails and disperse a few feet from the entrance to forage alone. May recruit to large sources of protein or piles of seed. They can sometimes be seen collecting seed after they drop from plants."  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2013 13:20:48 GMT -5
harvesters out here don,t hurt like that! I have been stung by both our native fire ants and the tropical red one imported to SoCal recently. LOCAL: equals a thousand wasp stings at 1% each, in the two seconds it takes to figure out what is happening. Then they give you 300 more before you get all your cloths off and jump in the water TROPICAL: equals a wasp sting times 100 stings before you can strip and get the hose on them. Both hurt for about an hour or so. The tropicals leave blisters the next day. Locals do not, most of the time. Tropical Red Fire Ant stings  |
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panamark
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Post by panamark on Sept 9, 2013 13:29:13 GMT -5
Wonder why the scorpion stings are not on that list? I am talking the big, 3-4 inch ones not the small 1" ones. In Panama they are quite common and their victims tell me it is a dozy of a sting. Luckily I have been able to avoid them, but they scare the heck out of me.
I have had lots of bites from fire ants, but only one run in with a really nasty ant (my bad). Not sure if it was a bullet ant, I believe a bullet ant bite would hurt worse. Maybe I only got a light bite , but still it hurt plenty bad. Amazingly, some animals seem immune to many insect bites (e.g. anteaters).
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 16:28:21 GMT -5
I have been to Central America Mark. I was taught by a local what an Acacia bush is and to stay away from it. He said go hike all ya want but do not get bit by the Acacia ant.
On one particular ecotour a girl that was a lot tougher than i want to be got bit by an Acacia ant and she insisted on being taken back(4 hours by boat) to Iquitos, Peru.
She was in extreme pain and after 48 hours still insisted. I mean you could tell she was in crazy pain. And the proprietor of the tour company lectured about that ant too.
He said he has lost customers due to fear of that ant.
I wonder why scorpions are not mentoined too. You and i both. I am scared of scorpions and spiders.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 16:33:24 GMT -5
Scott and Mel-Is this what your Harvester Ants look like? Florida ones are all orange. But images shows solid black ones if you search "harvester ant" w/out Florida adjective. See how slender their waist is? Kinda reminds you of your own eh? That ant is a bloody machine. I never see them in N Georgia  This is a South American one carrying a cob of corn(haha a grass seed gotcha)  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2013 16:44:39 GMT -5
Pogonomyrmex californicus we have other species  Scorpions not on list because that is a list of painful insect stings. scorps are not insects. In the USA large scorps are pussies. Not even a bee sting. It's the little ones like the Centuroides at Mels house that make ya sick. Different story in Africa. On the continent of Africa it's the medium ones that KILL. Literally. Leiurus quinquestriatus can kill. They cost $20 in reptile specialty pet stores nation wide. 
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 16:57:22 GMT -5
What insect can overwhelm you like fire ants. Is that your hand Scott? That would leave measles scars on the average person. This nest just popped up a few days ago  Let's disturb them  My favorite brand of knife out of Oregon  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2013 17:01:27 GMT -5
no, not my hand. random online image.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 17:03:17 GMT -5
No wonder Californian Harvesters don't sting like Florida ones
Look at the name!
Pogonomyrmex Californicus = California version
Pogonomyrmex Badiassius = Floida version
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2013 17:47:26 GMT -5
No wonder Californian Harvesters don't sting like Florida ones Look at the name! Pogonomyrmex Californicus = California version Pogonomyrmex Badiassius = Floida version uhhh..................... Pogonomyrmex badius is the florida one.............. You just want them to be badass!!! lol |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2013 18:14:13 GMT -5
Oh it's worse than that....
Florida is Badiassius
California is Californicationus
One is a lover and one is a badass
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