I was taking a bike ride to a local shopping center and I tied it to a stop sign. When I came back, I guess I jostled it a little and in a split second I was surrounded by wasps, probably a dozen. I swiftly departed the area, but only went about 20 feet away. They didn’t pursue, nor did they even hang out around the stop sign. they just went back up between the sign and the post where I assume they put their nest.
I’d always thought that by the time you’re surrounded, you’re getting stung. I also figured that they’d be more likely to pursue you further away from the nest. I went back to my bike, made sure not to jostle the sign this time, and rode away.
Did I get lucky, or are some wasps just that non-aggressive? Seems weird to swarm out so quickly and then do nothing. And then not even watch to see if I’m coming back.
For whatever reason they didn’t perceive you as a threat. If you retreated calmly and didn’t make abrupt motions perhaps they perceived you as a large thing just passing by and not something to worry about it.
If you stop and think about it, wasp nests get jostled all the time by things like the wind as well as passing critters. They don’t go into a murderous fury every time that happens. They probably deployed a patrol to see what had caused the vibration and if it was an immediate threat. Since you didn’t ping their radar as a problem they had no reason to attack you.
Even if stinging for wasps, unlike bees, does not cause certain death engaging a much larger creature carries a significant risk of injury or death. It’s not in the interest of the wasps to risk being killed without good reason.
Was it chilly out? Some flying biters get a little logy when the temperature drops. If that wasn’t the case, I’d say you owe those wasps a Popsicle, because they cut you a break.
BTW, do you tie your bike up to keep it from running away, or do you live in some amazing place where a mere knot discourages thieves?