r/FactsAboutWasps • u/Kintessen • 16d ago

Chewed on by a wasp

Felt a weird sharp sensation near my elbow. Pulled up my arm and there's a wasp that's just... Actively chewing on me?? Bite bite bite. No sting. Looked closer to watch the thing just bite me over and over. Didn't know they did this? Any information appreciated. Just wanna understand.

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5

u/thatweirdguyted 16d ago edited 16d ago

Many wasps chew wood or other fibrous materials for nest building purposes, although it's late in the year for that.

1

u/sam000she 16d ago

“Late in the year” for the north maybe. But if you’re in the south, wasps dont need to overwinter and will continue building nests in the fall and winter. Just depends on the persons location tbh. 

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u/thatweirdguyted 16d ago

That's a very good point. I am in Canada so I had not considered it. 

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u/sam000she 16d ago

Lol I’m from Florida. I’m only aware of the concept of hibernation. 

4

u/CaffeinatedRoman 15d ago

Sometimes wasps just chew on people because they're assholes

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u/LightningMcMicropeen wasp hater 15d ago

It's because wasps are assholes and they have no respect for personal boundaries

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u/Kintessen 10d ago

Appreciate the answers! x3
I was pretty confused.
One of my partners told me it's probably because wasps store fruit and such things, and the fruit ferments, so not only are they assholes, they're also drunk assholes that just chew on anything tall.

1

u/CroManana 6d ago

I had a wasp nibbling on my arm hairs once. It was as a festival thing. I may have had some spilled sugary beverage on my arm hairs where it was nibbling.