I didn’t understand what it was. My heart was pounding, blood was rushing in my ears. I took a few steps closer, and in the beam of the flashlight, something inside that strange mass shifted.

A sharp, angry buzzing sounded. I turned around and bolted out of the house.

Luckily, nothing happened to me. But the fear I felt was almost primal.

Later, it turned out: it was a wasp nest.

Wasps are extremely dangerous insects. Their stings are not only painful but can also cause a severe allergic reaction, even anaphylactic shock. And I’m allergic to them.

Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times, and when threatened, they act together, attacking as a swarm. If you stumble upon such a nest, you could receive dozens or even hundreds of stings in just a few minutes.

Most often, wasps build their nests in sheltered places – under roofs, in attics, in wall cavities, or in abandoned buildings.

They are attracted by warmth, dryness, and easy access to food. Most likely, these wasps entered at the start of summer, and I simply hadn’t noticed their presence… until it was too late.