Norwegian 101: Wasps (Vepser)
Heidi Håvan Grosch
Sparbu, Norway
For fear of sounding like a farmer (for å høres ut som en bonde), we have had a terrible summer (en forferdelig sommer) in Norway with wasps (med vepser).
They are everywhere (de er overalt), in abundance (i overflod), so (slik at) people have come up with (har funnet på) some creative ways (noen kreative måter) to combat them (å bekjempe dem).
Sprays (spray), foam (skum), and hitting the nest or hive with a long stick (å slå bolet med en lang pinne) are a few of (er noen av) the tried, and sometimes true, remedies (rettsmidler). We have tried vacuuming (å støvstuge) the wasps as they enter (som de kommer inn) their nest, often hidden (ofte skjult) under the siding (bordkledningen) and in other out of the way (ut av veien) places (steder). It actually works (det fungerer), and my husband (mannen min) finds great joy (stor glede) in watching the wasps as they approach their nest (de nærmer seg bolet) and instead (i stedet) get sucked in (bli sugd inn) to their final end (endelige slutten).
The wasp problem (veps problemet) has also proved problematic (å være problematisk) now that cherries (kirsebær) are getting ripe (blir modne). Most people are accustomed to (er vant til) covering (å dekke) their trees with netting (netting) to prevent (for å hindre) the birds (fuglene) from eating the ripe fruit (moden frukt). This year (i år) a new challenge (en ny utfordring) has presented itself as more than one cherry tree owner (mer en enn kirsebærtreeier) has been forced (har blitt tvunget) to pick (å plukke) all the cherries (alle kirsebær) at once (på en gang), even if (selv om) all are not ripe (ikke er modne), because the wasps also find them a delectable feast (en deilig matfest). That’s an uff da.
Hot, dry weather (varmt, tørt vær) is perfect for these annoying (irriterende), stinging insects (stikkende insekter), and that’s what we have (det er det vi har) had here in Trøndelag. There are many different types of wasps (det finnes mange forskjellige typer av vepser), including one called the Norwegian Wasp (norsk veps) or Dolichovespula norwegica, which is a type of tree wasp. However, despite the extra buzzing (ekstra summing) and occasional stinging (sporadiske stikk) this year, Norwegians do not retreat indoors (har nordmenn ikke trekt innendørs).
This article originally appeared in the Aug. 26, 2016, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
