YELLOW JACKET WASPS
Habitat: Most nests are actually in the ground, but can make nests in trees, eaves of buildings, etc. Nests are made of a paper-like material that consists of wood fiber.
Behaviors: Aggressive, mean little critters when they are seeking food, especially in the fall. Once they attack, their aggressiveness increases.
Size: Approximately 1/2 inch.
Color: Black with yellow markings.
Body: Smooth body with clear wings.
Envenomates Via: Stinger. Stinger is unbarbed, so multiple stings from one wasp is possible/probable.
Reactions to Sting/Envenomation: Initial pain is sharp and intense, with localized swelling. Reactions can last a few hours and become anaphylactic with multiple stings or hypersensitivity.
Treatment:
1. Remove stinger without squeezing it.
2. Wash with soap and water.
3. If Plantain available, extract juice and apply topically.
4. If Lavender available, may be used topically to help reduce itching and swelling.
5. If Jewelweed available, extract juice and apply topically.
6. If tobacco available, wet tobacco and apply over bites.
7. Most insect bites will heal on their own, without intervention.
Benefits to Habitat: Yellow Jackets feed on many crop and plant destroying insects.
RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT: More commonly known in Texas as "Those %$&* Ants"
Habitat: Fire ants build nests in almost any type soil. They prefer open, sunny areas, such as pastures, meadows, crop fields, but also build mounds in rotting logs/trees and under buildings.
Behaviors: Very aggressive. Attack en masse. A rapid, aggressive response to any type of disturbance. Can bite and sting repeatedly, even after their venom sac is empty.
Size: 1/8" to 1/4"
Color: Reddish-brown to black.
Body: 3-section body.
Envenomates Via: Grasps with large mandible, then arches body and drives abdominal stinger into the skin to release venom. Can sting multiple times, even after their venom sac is empty.
Reactions to Sting/Envenomation: Initially stings like %^&&, with an intense burning sensation, followed within 24-48 hours by formation of white pustules at the site. Watch for those hypersensitive or with multiple bites.
Treatment:
1. Remove stinger without squeezing it.
2. Wash with soap and water.
3. If Plantain available, extract juice and apply topically.
4. If Lavender available, may be used topically to help reduce itching and swelling.
5. If Jewelweed available, extract juice and apply topically.
6. If tobacco available, wet tobacco and apply over bites.
7. Most insect bites will heal on their own, without intervention. Benefits to Habitat: Eat fleas, ticks, termites, mosquito eggs and larva.
RECLUSE SPIDER
Habitat: Live both outside and inside human habitats. Drawn to dark places with little activity.
Behaviors: Not aggressive per se, but envenomates in defense when disturbed.
Size: 1/4" to 3/4"
Color: Dull yellow to tawny dark brown. Young tend to be lighter in color.
Body: Eight legs, six eyes. Most often with violin shaped markings on neck/head. Frequently called "fiddleback."
Envenomates Via: Short fangs.
Reactions to Bite/Envenomation: Initially may be painless or have a painful, stinging sensation. Within 24-36 hours, may experience fever, chills, weakness, and increasing pain. May progress to eruption into ulcerous lesions. Bite is hemotoxic.
Treatment:
1. Treat bite symptomatically. Many actual spider bites will result in no envenomation.
2. If ulceration occurs, seek medical.
Benefits to Habitat: Eats flies, mosquitoes.
TIMBER RATTLESNAKE
Habitat: Prefer moist, lowland forests and hilly woodlands or thickets near permanent water sources and swamps where tree stumps, logs and branches provide refuge.
Behaviors: Tend to be active during daytime hours during spring/fall, and more active at night during summer months. Coil beside fallen trees and wait for quick moving prey to pass for ambush. Although highly venomous, they tend to be slow to bite and defend themselves. Generally difficult to provoke, although they have been known to strike without warning. Tellltale rattle sound when disturbed.
Size: 36" to 40" as adults.
Color: Heavy gray and greenish-white body with rust colored strip along length. Tail tipped with rattles. Yellow eyes with cat-like pupils. 20-29 dark, V-shaped markings on back with jagged edges. Wide variations in colors have been shown.
Body: Wide, triangular head with narrow neck.
Envenomates Via: Large fangs.
Reactions to Bite/Envenomation: Not all bites result in envenomation. Swelling, severe pain, tingling, weakness, nausea/vomiting, sweating, can cause heart failure. Venom is hemotoxic (destructive to tissues).
Treatment:
1. Note time of bite
2. Remove jewelry or other items that could constrict swelling.
3. Keep victim calm.
4. Wash wound with soap/water.
5. Keep bite area level with heart.
6. DO NOT attempt to capture snake.
7. DO NOT attempt to cut or suck the wound.
8. Place pressure bandage (NOT tourniquet) (see below) if Medical Evacuation is not imminently available.
9. Get to Medical. Time is tissue.
10. If Medical Evacuation is NOT going to be an option or if it will be delayed:
a. Get a pressure wrap on the bite site ASAP. The intent is to slow capillary and venous blood flow, NOT arterial flow. Be sure to check for pulses below the wrap site to ensure circulation.
b. Splint the extremity to prevent motion.
c. If the victim is conscious, encourage water intake.
d. Construct a shelter to keep victim out of the elements.
POISON IVY
A climbing/trailing vine, shrub, or even a small tree. New leaves are typically red in the spring. Fall colors are yellow, orange, and red. Typically 3 leaf clusters ("Leaves of three are bad for thee"). Produces small, greenish-white clusters of flowers in the spring and white, waxy berry-like fruits in fall.
Signs/symptoms of exposure appear 12-36 hours after exposure via skin contact with any part of the plant (all parts of the plant are toxic during all seasons). Presents as itchy, burning rash, followed by small to large blisters and swelling. NOTE: Burning Poison Ivy leaves are particularly dangerous, as the smoke carries the toxin and can be inhaled.
Treatment:
1. Wash area well with soap/water.
2. If available, apply topical administration of Jewelweed, by either directly rubbing crushed leaves onto the blisters, or by making a TOPICAL tea.
3. If Impatiens are available, rub the juice from the flowers onto the blisters.
4. If Milkweed is available, rub the milky sap onto the exposed area. This causes an increase in itching initially, followed by relief.
Jewelweed TOPICAL tea preparation:
a. Collect at least 1/2 gallon quantity of plant stems, leaves, and flowers.
b. Chop into pot sized pieces.
c. Cover with water, add lid and simmer until the water is reduced by 1/2 and turns an amber color.
d. Strain out the wilted herbs, and apply the tea mixture TOPICALLY to the affected area.
e. Wilted leaves may also be applied directly to the affected area.
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