ENLARGEA surging population of yellowjackets, or meat bees, is swarming around Nevada County because of unusually dry, warm weather, officials said Friday.
Some residents report being seriously stung by the pesky bees.
"A swarm of them attacked," said Grass Valley resident Liz Rizzo, who said she was stung about 18 times on her scalp, face, ears and back while walking on lower Litton Trail. "I've never had anything like this happen before."
Her golden retriever, Buddy, also was stung several times.
Some residents report being seriously stung by the pesky bees.
"A swarm of them attacked," said Grass Valley resident Liz Rizzo, who said she was stung about 18 times on her scalp, face, ears and back while walking on lower Litton Trail. "I've never had anything like this happen before."
Her golden retriever, Buddy, also was stung several times.
A passerby called 911, and a firefighter responding to the call was also stung as he tried to get the bees out of Rizzo's hair, she said.
Rizzo had to go to the hospital for treatment, where doctors prescribed painkillers for the burning stings.
"It was like getting a cattle prod on your head," she said.
Meat bee activity is on the rise compared with previous summers because more of their prey, such as grasshoppers, thrive in the hot, dry weather, said Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner Jeff Pylman.
Rizzo had to go to the hospital for treatment, where doctors prescribed painkillers for the burning stings.
"It was like getting a cattle prod on your head," she said.
Meat bee activity is on the rise compared with previous summers because more of their prey, such as grasshoppers, thrive in the hot, dry weather, said Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner Jeff Pylman.
"They don't discriminate," Pylman said of the aggressive yellowjackets, which are attracted to meat and any other kind of food. "I've seen a meat bee carry off a piece of potato salad."
Yellowjackets have retractable stingers, he said, which allow them to sting several times. By contrast, honeybees can sting only once and die after they lose their stingers.
They also use their mouths to chew away at food, Pylman said.
Now that the weather is getting cooler, meat bees will likely become less of a problem, he said, while people can also purchase chemicals and traps at local hardware stores to get rid of underground hives on their property.
Yellowjackets have retractable stingers, he said, which allow them to sting several times. By contrast, honeybees can sting only once and die after they lose their stingers.
They also use their mouths to chew away at food, Pylman said.
Now that the weather is getting cooler, meat bees will likely become less of a problem, he said, while people can also purchase chemicals and traps at local hardware stores to get rid of underground hives on their property.
Sometimes tuna juice also works well inside traps, but residents need to be careful when setting traps, he said. Meat bees respond right away when they detect any traces of meat, Pylman said.
Refraining from outdoor picnics and barbecues can also cut down on unfortunate encounters with the bees, he said.
To contact Staff Writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robynm@theunion.com or call 477-4236
Refraining from outdoor picnics and barbecues can also cut down on unfortunate encounters with the bees, he said.
To contact Staff Writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robynm@theunion.com or call 477-4236
