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Why can't you poke a hornet's nest?

Why can't you poke a hornet's nest?
Quick Answer

Like honey bees, wasps are social insects, and their hives (i.e., wasp nests) are where they give birth to their young. Therefore, wasps are very vigilant about their hives and will never allow enemies to invade. If an intruder accidentally pokes a wasp's nest, all the wasps will attac

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Like honey bees, wasps are social insects, and their hives (i.e., wasp nests) are where they give birth to their young. Therefore, wasps are very vigilant about their hives and will never allow enemies to invade.


If an intruder accidentally pokes a wasp's nest, all the wasps will attack it in groups. When wasps sting, they can release a gas. As long as one wasp stings an intruder, all the other wasps will follow the smell and attack the intruder in turn.


The sting of a wasp contains formic acid and neurotoxins. These substances can cause burning, redness, swelling, and even local spasms when they enter the human body. Therefore, a wasp's nest must not be poked.

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