Even in pain, we were a couple of biology nerds. IIRC, we identified the corpses from the cab of the truck as german yellowjackets. They’re a particularly aggressive invasive wasp. Little bastards.
I know this must have been excruciating but I couldn’t stop laughing. I just had some encounters with yellow jackets just a couple of months ago so I can sympathize, even if my encounters were a lot less severe. I had a nest in my back yard, on the stairs leading to the tool shed and compost pile. I got stung twice (two different days), and then once we figured out there was a nest I got stung 3 times finding it. Turns out my girlfriend is mildly allergic, her sting got red and angry and the whole area swelled up. Mine just caused me pain for either a couple of hours or a couple of days.
As a 5yo boy, I watched as my father and grandfather planted boxwoods along our front walk.
They had to stop, as they encountered a yellow jacket nest next to the shrub they were about to remove. It’s all well and good to stand around contemplating things, but I was a child of action, not thinking. I ran over, swatted the shrub about 7 times with my horse-on-a-stick and retreated quickly behind the screen door nearby to watch them leave.
You ever see a cartoon where the bees come out, see their tormentor & give chase as a living, cohesive swarm? I can still see it in my mind 40 years later. They took after my poor dad who ran laps around the house trying to get away, but to no avail.
Later, I found him & my mom on the back steps, her above him administering aid & I’ll never forget the look he gave me. Mom said I had better get somewhere else real quick, and I did.
Sorry, dad. I was just trying to help.