A pair of good Samaritans have been praised for their quick actions after coming to the aid of a man stung about 30 times in a Waitati wasp attack.
The man, who was taken to Dunedin Hospital by ambulance after the attack, was clearing an overgrown Doctors Point Rd property yesterday morning when he disturbed a wasp's nest.
Jim Ellison, who lives next-door to the property, was full of praise for the quick actions of the two people who came to the man's aid, one of whom ran down his driveway to request vinegar to pour on the stings.
Mr Ellison handed over the vinegar and walked next door to find the man in a lot of pain and not "faring too good''.
St John ambulance spokesman Ian Henderson said it was alerted to the wasp attack at 9.54am.
It took the man, aged in his 50s, to Dunedin Hospital emergency department with moderate injuries.
Mr Henderson believed the use of vinegar on insect stings was an "old wives' tale''.
A St John officer on the scene said it appeared the man had been stung about 30 times.
The attack took place amid a spike in wasp numbers in the city.
The city's pest-controllers have been busy destroying nests.
A1 Pest Services Otago owner-operator Craig Legg said staff were probably destroying more nests this summer than in any other of the 25 years he had been in business.
On an average day, about 10 nests were being destroyed, Mr Legg said.
He believed the boom was likely a result of the dry summer.
Pest-Gone Services Ltd owner-operator Ben Powell said wasp numbers had spiked this year after last season was the "probably the quietest'' he had seen because of wet weather. Up to 15 nests were being destroyed a day by staff.
Many of those wanting nests destroyed had been stung by wasps.
The nests were injected with insecticide, which killed the wasps within a couple of hours.
● The Ministry of Health recommends washing a stung area with soap and cold water then using an anti-sting ointment or a paste made of baking soda and cold water.
Ice compresses can also be used every two to three hours to reduce swelling and pain, along with pain relief such as Panadol or antihistamines.
Wasps
• German and common wasps accidentally introduced to New Zealand. Both yellow with black markings.
• German wasp: black bands with separate black dots. Common wasp: broader black bands that merge with dots.
• Both have painful stings. Common wasps much more aggressive.
• Eat high-sugar foods. For protein prey on invertebrates, even young chicks.
• Large colonies, about the size of a soccer ball. Colonies can become huge if they survive winter.
• World's largest recorded wasp nest discovered at Waimauku (near Auckland) - 3.75m tall and 1.7m wide.
Source: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand/Doc
