Beware of Wasp Encounters During Summer Leisure! 14.5% Have Been Stung

BEST Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; CEO: Hirofumi Igarashi; hereinafter “the company”) aims to create a safer society by providing optimal information and resolving various household issues, including wasp nest removal.

This press release presents the results of our original survey on wasp encounters and sting incidents during summer leisure activities. Real-life situations—such as common scenarios and months for encounters, as well as symptoms after stings—have been clarified.

Summer is a season when people spend more time outdoors with greater skin exposure, and it also coincides with peak wasp activity. We hope this information helps you consider preventive measures in advance.

※When quoting this press release, please adhere to the following:

・Clearly state the source as “a survey by BEST Co., Ltd.”

Example: According to a survey by BEST Co., Ltd., which operates “Hachi Tasuke Honpo,” a specialized wasp removal service

・Include a link to Hachi Tasuke Honpo (https://hachi.otasuke-honpo.com/)

【Survey Overview】

Target: Individuals who encountered wasps during summer leisure activities

Survey Period: May 13, 2026

Survey Organization: In-house survey

Survey Method: Internet-based voluntary responses

Valid Responses: 200

Forest walks top the list for wasp encounters—BBQs and rivers also require caution

We asked respondents to select multiple scenarios in which they encountered wasps during popular summer leisure activities. Forest walks were the most common. This is understandable, as forests are preferred nesting sites for a wide variety of wasps, leading to higher encounter rates.

Mountaineering, BBQs, rivers, and camping each accounted for around 20%. Similar to forests, areas rich in natural elements such as trees, thickets, water bodies, and soil tend to have higher encounter rates.

Among open-ended responses, the most frequently mentioned location was private residential property. This indicates that wasp encounters are possible even in everyday living areas with little natural environment, including swimming pools. Caution is necessary regardless of location during summer leisure.

August sees the highest number of encounters—aligning with peak wasp population

Hornets and paper wasps begin nest-building when temperatures exceed 18°C, as queen wasps emerge from hibernation. Worker wasps start increasing from late June to July, peaking in August. The rise in worker wasps likely contributes to higher encounter rates.

Additionally, since responses exceed 100%, many people encountered wasps across multiple months. If encounters near your home are frequent, consider the possibility of a nearby nest.

Hornets top the list of encountered species, with paper wasps ranking second

Hornets generally have more worker wasps per nest than paper wasps. Moreover, hornets have a wide foraging range, flying up to 1–2 km from their nest during summer—another reason for their high encounter rate.

On the other hand, while honeybees have many worker bees per nest, their wild distribution is limited. They also become less active when temperatures exceed 30°C. Not heat-tolerant, honeybees are mainly active during cooler times of day, such as mornings and evenings, in summer.

14.5% of people stung during summer leisure—caution needed during this light-clothing season

The fact that over 10% of those who encountered wasps during summer leisure were stung is a significant figure. There appears to be a critical difference between those who get stung and those who don’t. Let’s examine this through the survey results.

Arms are the most commonly stung area—exposed areas and dark colors are targeted

The most frequently stung areas are arms, followed by head and legs.

Since summer involves wearing short sleeves and shorts, exposed arms and legs are more vulnerable to stings. Additionally, arms and legs involve large movements, which may stimulate wasps and provoke attacks.

Moreover, wasps tend to perceive dark colors as threats and attack accordingly, making dark or near-black hair a concern. We recommend wearing light-colored hats to cover dark hair. Other responses included neck, ears, and the back of the hand—all either exposed or close to the hair.

Most stings result in localized symptoms, but caution is still required

The most common symptoms after stings are moderate pain and swelling. Pain, itching, and swelling at the sting site are localized symptoms. These typically subside within a few days.

However, even if the incident doesn’t escalate, complacency is dangerous. Being stung once may lead to wasp venom allergy.

Although this survey recorded 0%, symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches are highly indicative of anaphylactic shock due to allergy. If allergic to wasp venom, subsequent stings may trigger these severe reactions—caution is essential.

Ointments are the most common post-sting treatment—visiting a hospital is recommended after first aid

The most common response for post-sting treatment was using ointments, followed by cooling the area. Given that most symptoms in the survey were localized, these treatments likely helped alleviate discomfort.

Notably, only 13.79% reported visiting a hospital. This contrasts sharply with previous survey results, where hospital visits were the most common response.

While those stung near home can easily visit their regular doctor, many who were stung away from home chose not to go to a hospital. Possible reasons include difficulty finding nearby clinics or symptoms subsiding by the time they return home.

However, visiting a hospital—even later—is crucial to undergo wasp venom allergy testing. If allergic, you may be prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) to mitigate anaphylactic shock.

At facilities with management staff, such as pools, BBQ sites, or parks, contacting staff is also critical. This ensures emergency transport routes are ready in case symptoms suddenly worsen.

Additionally, facility managers have a responsibility to manage and remove wasp nests. Informing staff enables prompt action to prevent further victims.

Large movements easily provoke wasp attacks

The most common reason respondents recalled being stung was making large movements. Other open-ended responses included “approaching the nest,” “trying to remove the nest,” and “kicking the nest.” All these actions stimulate wasps and provoke attacks.

Meanwhile, sweet scents from hair products, perfumes, fabric softeners, or food and drink odors attract wasps but do not provoke attacks. However, making large movements to shoo away wasps drawn by these scents may result in stings.

Take precautions when visiting areas with many wasps—learn from those who’ve experienced stings