Cuckoo wasps are enchantingly beautiful, but beware – the larger ones of this species might be able to sting. Here’s a primer on a Cuckoo wasp sting and what to do about it.
Cuckoo wasps can sting humans, but there is often nothing to worry about unless you are allergic to insect bites.
You can wash the affected area with cold water or put an ice pack on it. However, in case of severe allergies, it is advisable to seek medical care.
If you are looking for more information on what happens if a cuckoo wasp stings you and what to do about it, continue reading.
What Are Cuckoo Wasps?
Cuckoo wasps are tiny but fast-moving wasps that shimmer in beautiful metallic colors.
These parasitic wasps are usually found during summer, looking for a host to lay eggs and drink nectar.
Cuckoo Wasps are solitary wasps; they don’t build colonies or large nests with other wasps.
Worldwide there are more than 3,000 species of these bugs, of which more than 200 species are found in North America, especially in California.
What Do They Look Like?
Cuckoo Wasps have black eyes, legs, and wings. Their bodies glow in bright and metallic blue, green, or purple colors.
For this reason, they are also known as emerald wasps, jewel wasps, or gold wasps.
The metallic sheen of their bodies is still a mystery to scientists, but one reason could be that it helps them attract other insects so that they can lay their eggs on them.
Can Cuckoo Wasps Sting?
Female cuckoo wasps have an ovipositor that extends out of their abdomen. It has evolved from a stinger. However, it does not have the capacity to sting anymore.
They use this ovipositor to infiltrate the mud nests of other wasps. The female uses her ovipositor first to vibrate and hence soften the mud wall and then lays her eggs into the nest.
This is an interesting activity, also known as brood parasitism. Cuckoo wasps share this activity with cuckoo birds, which is why they were given the name.
However, cuckoo wasps go one step further – their larvae feed off the food that the poor wasp has laid out for her own and then kill the host’s larvae and feed on them as well.
But, leaving that little detour aside, the above para answers the question – does a cuckoo wasp sting humans?
Since their ‘stinger’ is only used to insert their eggs and is non-functional otherwise, cuckoo wasps are not supposed to be able to sting humans.
However, some people have reportedly received painful stings from larger species of these wasps.
So, it is best to maintain a distance from cuckoo wasps if you spot one.
Symptoms of a Wasp Sting
Can a cuckoo wasp kill you with its bite? No. Are cuckoo wasps dangerous for you? Still no.
But are cuckoo wasps poisonous? That question is a bit more complicated. Their stinger has venom that transfers to human skin in case of a bite, and this venom can really cause pain!
The pain will subside in time unless you are allergic. We have discussed the symptoms of their bites in all scenarios below.
Normal Reaction
When a cuckoo wasp bites you, it punctures that area of the skin. The affected area develops a white welt which can cause swelling, pain, or redness.
These symptoms can last for a few hours and will go away naturally.
Severe Reaction
The term for a severe reaction caused due to wasp or bee sting is ‘large local reaction.’ It usually results in swelling, redness, and pain, which may last for two-three days.
In case of allergic reactions, it may lead to vomiting, dizziness, or nausea, and the swelling lasts for a week.
Even the large local reactions subside after a week, but in case of extreme discomfort, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Most doctors suggest taking antihistamine medication, usually Benadryl, to avoid discomfort.
Anaphylaxis
If you have a severe allergic reaction to a wasp bite, you might go into a state of shock because of wasp venom. This will cause anaphylaxis. The main symptoms of this allergic reaction include
- Swelling on the face, lips, throat, etc
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
- A sudden drop in blood pressure
- Hives or itching in body areas where you aren’t even stung
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Loss of consciousness
The stung person doesn’t need to exhibit all of the above symptoms; most people will only show a few of the signs.
So, if you or someone you know shows the above symptoms after a wasp bite, seek medical emergency immediately.
If you already know about your condition, it is advisable to always carry wasp sting or bee sting kits with you.
These kits contain epinephrine injections that help control or stabilize blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
What To Do if You Get a Sting?
You may need immediate medical care if you are severely allergic to wasps or insect bites. We have discussed all the wasp bite dos in this section.
Normal Reactions
Most wasp bites heal naturally within a few hours, even if you don’t do anything.
If you want to get rid of the swelling or pain quickly and avoid potential reactions, here’s what you can do.
- Wash the affected area with water and soap
- Remove as much venom as possible
- Apply an ice pack to the area to remove swelling and pain
- Use a soft and dry towel to clean the wound
- Use a bandage to cover it
In case of itching or irritation, apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion. Use baking soda or colloidal oatmeal during baths.
You can also take pain relievers (ibuprofen) and Antihistamine drugs (diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine) to quickly eliminate swelling, pain, and other symptoms.
If the symptoms don’t go away after 3-4 days of the sting, consider getting a tetanus shot.
Vinegar
Soak a cotton ball in apple cider or white vinegar and press it on the stung area for several minutes. Vinegar’s acidity neutralizes the sting’s alkalinity and lessens pain and inflammation.
Severe Reactions
Do you know that up to three percent of adults and 0.8 percent of children exhibit severe reactions after a wasp bite?
If someone loses consciousness or goes into shock after a wasp or bee bite, they require immediate medical attention.
Some medical treatments for severe reactions to a wasp bite would include:
- Epinephrine to stabilize blood pressure and heart rate
- In case the person is not breathing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is needed
- Steroids, oxygen, and other medication to improve respiration
If you already know about your severe reaction to a wasp bite, it is best to avoid the areas where you can find these insects.
Additionally, you should carry a bee or wasp kit with you at all times.
If you see someone struggling due to a wasp bite, it is best to call 911 and stay with them until medical help comes.
Try giving them CPR in case they are unconscious and not breathing. If they have a bee kit, immediately inject them with it and wait for their immune system to calm down.
Cuckoo Wasp Defense Mechanisms
Cuckoo wasps live a rather perilous life, as we mentioned earlier. After all, invading the nests of other wasps to plant your own larvae is fraught with risk.
The biggest challenge in the life of a female cuckoo wasp is to insert her eggs inside the home of potential hosts without getting seen.
These hosts are usually other ground-nesting wasps who are capable of killing the mother cuckoo wasp with their deadly stingers.
Thus, cuckoo wasps use their bodies as armor to protect themselves from a potential attack. It curls its antenna and legs and lets its hard exoskeleton protect its body.
The defense is so effective that even the strongest of jaws or stingers cannot penetrate it, and the host has no choice but to pick up the infiltrator and throw her outside their nest.
The cuckoo wasp will then get up, dust herself off, fly back to her nest, and await another suitable time to attack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cuckoo wasp harmful?
Cuckoo wasps are harmless to humans but may sometimes leave painful stings. Even though their stingers have evolved into ovipositors, some of the larger species can still leave a bite.
The sting may last for a few hours unless the person is allergic to insect bites, in which case, medical help is needed.
Do cuckoo wasps have a stinger?
Female cuckoo wasps have an ovipositor to insert eggs in the host larva’s nest. They don’t have a stinger anymore.
When the wasp larvae come out of their eggs, they eat up the host larvae along with their food supply or wait for the host to eat the food and then consume them.
Are cuckoo wasps rare?
Cuckoo wasps are not rare. There are more than 3,000 species of these wasps worldwide, and more than 200 of them can be found in America and Canada alone.
However, some species of cuckoo wasps, such as Chrysidea falsa, are rare.
Are cuckoo bees poisonous?
Cuckoo bees are not poisonous to humans, but some may leave a painful sting.
Unless you are allergic to bee bites, a cuckoo bee’s sting is non-threatening and heals within a few hours. Cuckoo bee larva, however, ends up killing the larvae of its hosts.
Wrap Up
We hope this article helped you learn all about what to do when a cuckoo wasp stings you. These metallic-colored wasps are as deadly as they are beautiful, but only to their hosts.
While some cuckoo wasps might be able to sting, the pain would usually subside in a matter of a few hours. If you are allergic to wasp stings, please make sure to carry a wasp sting kit with you at all times. Thank you for reading.
7 Comments. Leave new
So, this is not a fly?
Correct. A Cuckoo Wasp is not a Fly.
Which states are they found in? I may have seen the green ones in Iowa.
According to BugGuide, they are reported throughout North America.
I’ve just found one of these in Scotland. It has the green head and torso and orange bottom. At first thought it may be a flying ant or odd shaped fly but the image on this site matches it exactly
Had one land on me yesterday 5/12/2018 in Oil City, PA. I do not recall ever having seen one before.
I think I just also found one in our pool. Aren’t they native to the west coast- Should they be in CT? Is this bad for New England bees? Just wondering.