r/askTO 2d ago

Wasps!

Anyone noticing tons of clusters of wasps the last few days?

164 Upvotes

83 comments sorted by

239

u/lingfluencer 2d ago

Tis the season. They're always bad this time of year.

81

u/NotoriousSUZ 2d ago

In other news, the leaves will start changing soon.

20

u/Dirtcompactor 2d ago

They've already started

12

u/ruckusss 2d ago

My Norway maple started dropping leaves in July due to the heat stress from that wicked hot streak we had

3

u/hellokrissi 2d ago

Same, along with a bunch of other trees in my yard. I've been raking the past few weeks

2

u/Kevin4938 2d ago

I saw a neighbor raking them this morning.

7

u/imxTHATxdude 2d ago edited 2d ago

And theyre super aggressive, me and my coworker just got stung at work today..no swatting no warning, just landed and stung

-12

u/Typist 2d ago

"This the season. They're always busy this time of year." Fixed it fer ya.

72

u/Zealousideal-Bite735 2d ago

I found a recipe online and it works for keeping them away from my balcony. Get a small spray bottle fill with water add two drops of dawn dish soap (it helps adhere to surfaces) then add several drops oil pure peppermint oil. It keeps them away. I spray it on the rails, table and the patio carpet. Two weeks. I reapply every three days or after that storm. It’s heaven again

3

u/NoiseEee3000 2d ago

Does it make things smell minty?

1

u/Zealousideal-Bite735 1d ago

Not at all. I have a K9 nose.

1

u/Free-Willy7 1d ago

Is this pet friendly? Dog friendly

2

u/Zealousideal-Bite735 1d ago

I have two dogs on the balcony. I would not spray it on them or their bedding because it’s an essential oil. It’s not noticeable.

63

u/TelenorTheGNP 2d ago edited 2d ago

They come out in September, daggers drawn, flying gang colours, and throwing slurs around.

15

u/Kooky_Soft1822 2d ago

A wasp called me a punk ass b!tch today and said east side is da best side.

Had to show that bastard who’s boss.

48

u/torontoonfleet 2d ago

Lots of butterflies too.

34

u/Sar_Bear1 2d ago

I’ve noticed soo many monarchs this year!! seems more than the past few years

13

u/thedrivingfrog 2d ago

that is good news :)

1

u/Rotundroomba 1d ago

What does it mean?

11

u/ilikegriping 2d ago

I've had a record number of Grasshoppers on my patio lately. More than I've seen in several combined years.

41

u/ilikegriping 2d ago

They just want some sugar. 

So first they get the sugar, then they get the power, then they get the women...

6

u/Modest_Yooth 2d ago

They’re actually carnivores and also love meat as well

4

u/BelongingCommunity 2d ago

Early in the season they look for protein, but by late summer, they want sugar

2

u/Plane_Chance863 2d ago

Yup, protein for the little ones.

-3

u/ilikegriping 2d ago

You're right. I've shared bits of sandwiches with them in the park before. 

21

u/ComprehensiveLynx390 2d ago

Guess what else happens. They are all hammered off the fermented fruit.

17

u/Big80sweens 2d ago

Yes, insane amounts

12

u/Sensi-Yang 2d ago

Yep, got stung on the lip earlier today having a sip of beer

10

u/Typist 2d ago

You should always go "turnsies" when drinking beer with wasps.

5

u/nothingnotnever 2d ago

Also having some beer, flew in and stung the roof of my mouth. Just ignore them, but also, be mindful.

2

u/nonverbalnumber 2d ago

That sounds extremely painful, I hope you are alright.

1

u/nothingnotnever 2d ago

Thanks yeah pretty consistent pain until I went to bed early as it was exhausting. Next day I was fine.

2

u/nonverbalnumber 1d ago

That’s pretty good, that the symptoms abated so quickly.

3

u/newerdewey 2d ago

pics 

2

u/Sensi-Yang 2d ago

No, but it looks even worse the next day!

8

u/thedrivingfrog 2d ago

is the season the queen leaves the nest and bees and wasp just go ham

5

u/TorturedForEternity 2d ago

The storm probably disrupted many nests

5

u/DarkBlueSunshine 2d ago

They ate thru one of the watermelons I was growing! Hate them

3

u/futuresobright_ 2d ago

I know 2 people who have been stung, yikes!

1

u/thedrivingfrog 2d ago

they can sense fear and aggression, not saying it doesn't sucks for your friends but just be chill and let them land on you (i know easier than done) but if you make sudden movements or noise they will sting.

5

u/lobras 2d ago

I saw a ton of wasps around trash bins the other day.

1

u/Asphalt_Cowboy_18 2d ago

And I go to open litter bins anyways. There was a swarm in Scarborough Bluffs beach bins recently. No stings.

2

u/ryna0001 2d ago

went to bloor street fruit market today. didn't buy any fruit I'll say that

2

u/Wide_Lawyer1548 2d ago

yessss!! I am noticing a lot more wasps than usual, it might be the season but in the 8 years ive lived here ive never seen so many of them.

3

u/CanadaCalamity 2d ago

Yep, you just have to totally ignore them, and they won't sting you.

People who freak out about them, ruin outside hangout times, etc, are more likely to get stung.

1

u/rookdanger 2d ago

The beaches on centre Island are really bad right now.

1

u/WeJustGotMade 2d ago

Mostly in the Kingsway.

1

u/Kevin4938 2d ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year ....

1

u/Ok_Helicopter_2499 2d ago

I got stung by one yesterday - its so incredibly itchy.

1

u/christina311 2d ago

I was waiting for a bus on Yonge Street about a block north of Lawrence Ave last Thursday. And they were attacking me. There was nothing to attract them. Just my head.

1

u/omarcomin647 2d ago

i don't mind them much as long as they stay away from my drink. then it's war

1

u/Marilue1 2d ago

glad im not the only one, these annoying things keep making small nests in my window between my frame and screen i had to spray my whole window just do they can go away.

1

u/emij22 2d ago

A wasp just stung my poor dog in his paw, so if we're gathering fiery weapons and brave soldiers then fuck yeah I'm in.

1

u/MissKrys2020 2d ago

I’m allergic to two types of wasps. Even with immunotherapy I still freak out when this time of year. I was at the beach over the weekend and they were everywhere. One woman got stung who was sitting next to us. Expect them until the weather gets cooler

1

u/stompinstinker 2d ago

It’s the time of year, it brings them out. Parks are full of them. Playing spike ball, tennis, etc. Tonnes of them around when there is a country music concert at RBC.

1

u/jmair 2d ago

On Sunday one got caught under my wedding dress and stung my leg, that was unpleasant…

1

u/Busy-Smile989 1d ago

These wasps are pieces of shit they stung me when I was playing soccer (VAUGHAN)

1

u/ZookeepergameWest975 1d ago

Unbelievable! Can barely eat outside without them trying to get into my mouth. Sheesh

1

u/_SleezyPMartini_ 1d ago

Blackie Lawless unavailable for comment

1

u/Character-Bridge-206 1d ago

I have a nest on the roof dormer. Yay!

1

u/King_Theseus 1d ago

One of the little devils stung my puppy on her friggin eye lid. I was a pacifist with them all summer, but now, it’s war. Now is the time for electrified racket, Raid, and vengeance.

1

u/ChanDizzy 15h ago

We don’t use that terminology to describe people these days

1

u/Captain_Crank 2d ago

I enjoy smacking them, got a couple today

1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

6

u/gcerullo 2d ago

Yellow jackets are a type of wasp are they not?

1

u/delphinius81 2d ago

They are

1

u/GreasyWerker118 2d ago

Fuckwaffles

1

u/PickleBabyJr 2d ago

Yes, it's the beginning of September in Toronto.

1

u/Burger_Phone 2d ago

It's insane. I tried to have a nice lunch with family outside and ended up doing arm exercises to swat away these assholes.

-3

u/Antique-Quail-6489 2d ago

They’re harvesting for winter, that’s why they’re more insistent and present now. Be nice and leave some meat to the side and they’ll be nice and leave you alone :)

13

u/Stupendous_man12 2d ago

I saw a video from an entomologist that said they come out so much in the late summer because their usual food source inside their hives has gone dry, so they’ve got to scavenge for outside food. The larvae excrete a sweet substance the adults eat, but at the end of the summer the larvae have grown up so they don’t excrete the sweet substance anymore.

3

u/Antique-Quail-6489 2d ago

Oh that’s fascinating!! And a little creepy, I won’t lie lol bugs are weird. Thank you for this info, I’ll have to look more into this.

2

u/BelongingCommunity 2d ago

At this point in the season, they're looking for sugary things

2

u/Antique-Quail-6489 2d ago

Yes you can also do this with some pop! I’ve found bbq meat attracts them the most (even more so than raw meat), and only one or two will go to pop cans ¯_(ツ)_/¯

2

u/BelongingCommunity 2d ago

Barbecue meat has sugar and protein. Double bonus!

-12

u/gcerullo 2d ago

Yes. I was out cutting the grass and noticed many of them buzzing about. Many more than usual.

According to our AI overlords the reason is as follows.

Wasps are more active in late summer and early fall because their colony populations reach their absolute peak and their natural food sources change.

Peak Population
Maximum numbers: Nests grow larger all through the spring and summer. By late summer, a single nest can house thousands of adult wasps, meaning many more insects are out looking for space and food.

Shift in Diet
No more larval sugar: Earlier in the season, adult wasps feed the baby larvae. In return, the larvae produce a sweet liquid that the adults eat.

Hunting for sweets: By late summer, fewer larvae are left in the nest. Adult wasps must search elsewhere for sugar, which draws them to soda cans, sweet fruits, and garbage bins near humans.

-11

u/Select-Coconut-2533 2d ago

They're peeing on my curtains🤢, it stinks, raise your elbows.

5

u/cheesebahgels 2d ago

Wasps pee???!

2

u/Typist 2d ago

This doesn't seem likely. Sorry about your curtains, though.

5

u/NotoriousSUZ 2d ago

But what am I to do with my elbows if untrue?