My grandfather use to kill wasps at the dinner table with his bare
hands.  I remember seeing him do it as a child both catch them and
pinch them between his fingers or clap quickly over them. He said it
was all down to speed and if you were quick enough they wouldn't sting
you.  My mum says his hands were as tough as leather and that the
wasps did sting him its just he didn't feel it.

I'd like to know if a quick clap of hands over a flying wasp will kill
it without it stinging?

Most of the time, but expect to be stung perhaps one time in ten.   Neil

I killed about four yesterday with my hands, by clapping quickly when
they were in range or by hitting them to the ground with the back of
my hand and then standing on them (with shoes on). So far I have never
been stung by one!! They were trying to get into my drink!!

Baking soda relieves sting pain.

I'm going to risk the odds and with baking soda close to hand I'll try
catching the next one who spoils my picnic/drink/evening.

Researchers if you have the time and the inclination I'm still
interested in the answer -  my grandad, sprintmaster and neilzero may
be very fast - just how quickly does the wasp sting you?

I've noticed a fairly sharp clap doesn't seem to hurt wasps, usually
they just sit in your hand stunned for a few seconds. After that time,
they look angry enough to sting right away, but I'm not willing to
wait.

I think I would be more interested to know why there were so many
wasps at his dinnner table as to make this such a memorable tradition.

You can knock flies, wasps, bees, etc. by hitting them quick and hard;
this prevents stinging insects from nabbing you before you squish 'em.

Kriswrite

Hot English summers - some summers seem to be perfect for wasps.  I
should have explained dinner on a sunday was held at midday and
sometimes if the weather was good the we would eat dinner in the
garden or go for a picnic.  I guess the combination of lots of good
food, hot sun acted as a magnetic for all the wasps in the
neighbourhood.  As children we would panic if wasps came near us so
our grandfather would calmly kill any visiting wasp before they caused
mayhem at the dinner table.

to be perfectly honest i think the best way to kill wasps in
biological, chemical or nuclear warfare.  this is far more effective
and let's face it, there's more chance of grotesque accidents occuring
which if filmed could provide much needed funds if sold on the
internet or to cable TV chennels.