GETTING UPSET OVER A WASP???

[Flavourofthemonth123]

So I was over at a friend's house today with our two LO's this afternoon for a lil New Year's celebration (mostly for them, I find new years a bit naff). We were sitting there and all of a sudden a wasp flew at her child (I was mostly shocked to see one in December!) I swatted it down on the floor and stepped on the bastard (it was on the kitchen tiles, so no squishy bug remains mushed into the carpet.) She was a little bit upset that I squashed the wasp in front of her child, saying she doesn't condone killing bugs. I said that a wasp is different from a spider or a snail because they can sting the LO's (I also squash other bugs lol but that's not the point!)

It wasn't a huge deal but I was just surprised at her reaction! Am I alone in thinking that getting upset over a dead wasp is a bit unreasonable? If there was one hoovering around your little one would you hesitate to smoosh him??

"I don’t eat meat actually." Cool story. So do you eat dairy products? If you're a vegan, do you avoid all plant foods which have involved the use of pesticides?

I wouldn't kill it..... I would make my hubby kill it.

Bees (particularly hoovering ones) are welcome at my house, without them we would all be lost and having to hand pollinate just about everything, wasps though, I wouldn't resent anyone who swiped one that was around my child.

What would those who don’t kill insects do with a wasps or hornets nest? Or an ant invasion? Or an infestation of fleas or bed bugs?

I am an environmental scientist, yes, these would be targeted, but until my DC can understand why we do some things and not others, I don't want him to see casual killing of living things.

You can remove the wasp and explain. If you start killing wasps in front of them then they think that is what we are meant to do.

It is confusing for them to tell them to be kind to a butterfly then smash a wasp in front of them

"I don’t eat meat actually." Cool story

I think there is a way of getting your point across without calling people liars

You’re the one getting upset

Putting it outside is killing it! If you put it outside you have done a longer version of what op did!

Seriously, do you all have wasps and other insects nesting all over your houses?

There's a big difference between killing something which is actively causing a threat or being a serious pest, and there is no other way to get rid of it, and killing something which is doing no harm whatsoever but just happens to have momentarily come within into your proximity.

No there isn’t really a big difference. If I found any flea or bed bug in my house I’d kill it and investigate whether there was a need to kill more. So would you, I bet

Fleas and bed bugs are parasite which will feed on you. They have not momentarily come into your proximity, they have inhabited your home and will breed. I am allergic to flea bites. So, consistent with my post, they come under the category of serous pest.

Or, do the directors do a flight despatche routine with lots of directional arm waving, or a Disneyland car-park operative (which requires a series of people working together but I am sure there could be family training for it).

'And if you could just park the hoover beside the window as you leave, Mrs Wasp, we'd appreciate that.'

I knew a dinner lady once who went off on a massive rant about god when she caught a bunch of small children killing daddy long legs

The whole of the wall was covered with them...i agreed with her sentiment but boy was she angry, the children were

In fact op could be seen as committing an (unintentional) act of mercy with a quick death rather than a prolonged one.

Cool story Maggie. Piss off with your holier than thou attitude. Yours is the cool story

lulu

I like the Disney idea

Its not usually that hard to direct a flying insect outside. They often gravitate to a window. Open the window, Use a large sheet of paper or card, to gently move them out of the window. Or catch them in a cup and put them outside.

I am wondering what everyone's opinions are on slapping a mozzie (assuming you get them where you live)?

The wasp wasn't doing you any harm. There was no need to kill it.

OK Beer

So there are insects that DO deserve to die on sight and those that don’t? Is that right?

If so, why shouldn’t a wasp be killed when it comes into range, usually hovering around? There’s always the risk of a sting and I can’t think of any other reason to spare it.

The point about people who say they don't kill things is that they claim this on a blanket basis, when we know that is incredibly unlikely to be true - unless, for instance, they are willing to offer up their children's heads as a home for nits, and unless they examine the ground they are about to walk on at every step in case there are ants or insects there. So, before claiming virtuously to be a total non-killer, people should at least have the grace to qualify that.

As a vegetarian of nearly thirty years with an intrinsic belief in the precious nature and sanctity of life, I can confirm that I would have splatted the little fucker on sight.

If you let the aggressive little bastard live then it would have stung someone.

Different rules for wasps.

Classic mumsnetters 'oh if you can't kill a wasp then you have to be vegan and never step accidentally on an ant' yeah everything is that black and white.

@themueslicamel but wasps play an important role for plants, and indeed agriculture
They are not aggressive

Cool story Maggie. Piss off with your holier than thou attitude.

Lol. She's not the one with the holier than thou attitude.

but wasps play an important role for plants, and indeed agriculture

So, what would you have done?

We usually catch wasps and spiders and put them outside. They are living beings just like us.

That said, if it's a big one and I am on my own and desperate, I will get the Hoover out.

But it is sooooo easy to guide them outside especially in winter.

It doesn't sound like it was even bothering anyone...

And, you seem to have relished killing it ... "smoosh" ffs...

It reflects a nasty characteristic and attitude so I would definitely distance myself from you for sure....

Nah, classic Mumsnet is posters proclaiming that they’re really caring and then have to row back when it turns out to be a load of posturing guff.