Wasps don’t hold grudges or have a penchant for revenge in the way that humans think of it. However, if you kill a wasp, it emits a chemical aromatic compound that will signify to other wasps in the vicinity to be on the lookout. In the event this chemical is on you, they will identify it and attack accordingly.
Do Wasps Hold Grudges?
No, wasps don’t hold grudges. The reason why many people consider this is due to lack of education. As a matter of fact, bees are more willing to sting than wasps. That said, wasps do tend to be more vicious when they go on the defensive.
According to the American Chemical Society, these are very social creatures and communication is a top priority. Wasps rely on chemical signatures for this by way of pheromones. When killed, their bodies release an alarm that lets others know of an impending threat.
This means if you have a wasp coming after you, you did something and the evidence is on you. Nature designed wasps to turn on their aggressive instinct when they smell this pheromone. If you’re in the area and the culprit, they will identify it on you.
Do Wasps Get Mad at You?
We don’t actually know what wasps think of people. Scientists have yet to attempt researching such things. But we do know some scientific research suggests chemical triggers can change an insect’s brain. This may produce what we humans consider to be “emotions” and “feelings.”
There is no way to be certain if wasps sense or experience life on this kind of level. So, if they attack you, it’s probably more about defense. It’s likely because they smell the pheromone of their fallen comrade, not because they harbor feelings of personal animosity.
Do Wasps Attack for No Reason?
Although it may seem like a wasp is attacking you without just cause, they don’t haul off and sting for no reason. You did something to upset the wasp to make them sense danger in some way. You don’t necessarily have to be cognizant of it either.
For instance, you might hit their nest, send intense vibrations with your lawnmower, violently move your arm in their direction or step in the area where they were eating. For one reason or another, the wasp felt it was in danger and that’s why it attacked.
Can Wasps Remember or Recognize You?
No, wasps cannot identify you or your individual smell. The only way they target you is when you have the pheromone signifying you killed or have a stinger from one of their own on you. Either way, you have a pheromone emitting an alarm of danger.
However, it’s interesting to note that there’s a species of Paper Wasp that that can identify each other. Apparently, it’s only this particular species that can do this. Other ones use their sense of smell and electromagnetic signatures to identify each other.
According to research published in Science Magazine’s December 2011 issue, scientists discovered the Paper Wasp can identify individuals from their own species. They do this by the appearance of antennae and facial features. But, they can only do this with facial recognition of individuals, they can’t recognize patterns.
Can Wasps Get Mad in General?
Science has yet to show that wasps have emotions we can understand or classify as being mad. When they sting, it’s out of self-preservation and instinct for survival. It may be difficult for people to comprehend, but aggression isn’t the same as getting mad. Remember, aggression is a behavior and mad is an emotion.
Aggression can happen as a result of anger, but aggression can also occur because of an innate flight-or-fight response. The latter doesn’t necessarily have to have an emotion attached to it.
Can Wasps Take Revenge?
On the one hand, wasps don’t take revenge the way most people define it. But, in a sense, they do take revenge if they know you killed one of their own or if there’s a stinger in you. For this kind of revenge, it’s a reaction to the pheromones left behind rather than a feeling of deep-seated hatred.
If Wasps Aren’t Vengeful, Mad or Spiteful, Why Do Swarms Follow You?
The only time a swarm of wasps begins following you is if you disturbed their home. In the event one of them stings you, they leave a chemical pheromone embedded within the injection site.
This emits to all and sundry that you are a potential threat, which then provokes other wasps into an aggressive state. When this happens, they will chase you to the bitter end.
Can You Die from a Wasp’s Sting?
It may come as a surprise that wasp swarms kill 10 times as many people as poisonous snakes in the United States per year. Therefore, it’s possible for a wasp’s sting to be fatal and this can happen in two ways:
- Allergies: Some people are highly allergic to the venom contained within a wasp’s sting. If swelling, difficulty breathing or hives are extensive and intensive than should be normal, seek emergency assistance.
- Venom: Certain species of wasps have enough venom in one stinger to kill you. But if a large enough swarm attacks, even with a miniscule amount in an individual stinger, can kill you. They are very defensive of their hives and even the smallest vibration can trigger an onslaught.
Which Wasp Species Can Kill with One Sting?
The Asian Giant Wasp, also known as the Murder Wasp, has the potential to kill 10 humans in one year with a single stinger. If even a small swarm attacks one person, they will likely die from the event. These wasps have stingers ¼” long and, when stung, feels almost as bad as a gunshot wound.
They are incredibly vicious too, even the slightest threat to them or their hive will trigger an attack of biblical proportions. Asian Giant Wasps are not only some of the largest, but the deadliest wasps on earth.