WHEN YIN AND YANG IS OUT OF BALANCE – A Painful Encounter!
Argh!!! Stung by an Asian paper wasp, and now my arm looks like the Hulk’s—thankfully minus the green! Yikes, I’m allergic! It’s itchy, throbbing, swollen, and my vein leading to my lymph nodes is red—definite signs of infection. Off to emergency!
Back and arm in a sling. Unlike bees, they can sting multiple times and live on. I got stung a couple of times, and now I’m facing the aftermath: infection. Can’t believe the punctures actually got infected!
These little chappies are recent migrants, first detected here in ’79. They thrive in Northland’s warm climate, and this year especially, their numbers have soared due to the warmer summer. With no natural predators in New Zealand, their population has exploded. Their nests are camouflaged around gardens, making them easy to miss—until they rudely remind you they’re there!
When nature is out of balance, forces move in unexpected ways. These wasps compete with native birds and insects for food, preying on caterpillars and other vital insects that maintain the delicate harmony of the ecosystem. They’ve been shown to cause significant declines in native insect populations, leading to cascading ecological impacts and posing threats to human health and recreation.
On a positive note, I’ve had my first-ever harvest from the orchard! Such a rewarding experience!
Stay alert, check your surroundings, and if you get stung—clean the site thoroughly!
Master Boon 🌈💜
