Wasp Infestation Disrupts North Campus

By Binta Bah

Purchase has a known history of insect infestations that pose an inconvenience to the campus community. The discovery of an active wasp nest outside the Natural Sciences building has been especially troublesome for students living nearby.

Wasps are tiny insects; some species have a distinctive black-and-yellow pattern and a needle-like stinger. Wasps can be mistaken for bees, although both belong to the same insect order, Hymenoptera.

Students have been advised to stay on the lookout for wasps on the north side of campus. One student, Victoria Rotundo, said, “I haven’t seen any of them, but I just got an email about it. There’s actually a nest at the back entrance of the Natural Sciences building.”

Professor Meagan Curtis emailed students to spread the word about wasp precautions and current safety measures; however, this notice has not reached every student living on campus.

Willow Brown, an environmental studies and marine biology major, was recently affected by these wasps. Brown, who currently lives in The Olde apartment complex, was sitting at the table in the common room area where she felt a sharp pain on the left side of her leg.

“When it happened, it felt like a sting in my entire leg and not just on one side,” Brown stated. “I saw it on me, as the stinger was literally stuck in the inside. I immediately removed it. It was such a burn, as I ran towards the bathroom. One of the girls I lived with helped me wash it off.”

Wasp stings cause sharp pain, burning, redness and swelling. Brown suffered a minor allergic reaction and experienced some facial swelling. She went to health services on campus, where she was given oral cream to help heal the sting.

Photo of Brown’s visible skin reaction from the wasp sting. (Photo by Willow Brown)

Brown spoke with Jaida Sweeney, the residential coordinator for The Olde, about a solution for these insects. She sent an email detailing the specific incident, as Brown refers to it, as a yellow jacket issue. Sweeney, in response to the incident, stated, “Based on the work order request, it states that these insects are coming from the outside of the apartment. Usually when wasps enter an indoor space, they will gravitate towards windows as an exit point, so also be on the lookout for that.”

Sweeney suggested that the students should direct facilities to the specific entry points wasps had used to get inside the apartment in the work order statement.

​The email sent from Professor Meagan Curtis regarding wasps. (Photo from Victoria Rotundo)

Jayden Ali Taylor, a senior cinema studies major, said, “I put in some work orders, as I tried killing every wasp in sight. I also tried using Raid insect spray around my windowsill.” Taylor stated that his wasp issue was ultimately dealt with. “The problem was resolved when an exterminator came and found out that the hive had died. I also know other individuals at Purchase who have dealt with this particular issue, some of whom have graduated already,” said Taylor.

A wasp lying dead on the floor in a dorm. (Photo by Binta Bah)

In addition, Taylor expressed, “I think it’s a problem in general because of the fact that it took place during the summertime when eventually, wasps became highly aggressive.”

As for Brown, she explicitly stated, “I actually told her [Sweeney] that it is becoming very difficult to feel comfortable in our own apartment, as we try to seal possible entry points ourselves. But nothing seems to be solving the underlying issue. But now, since someone has been stung, I would really appreciate it if the source of the yellow jackets could be investigated further and a more permanent solution can be found.”