BeeSpotter Topic 
Bee Stings
Why and How Do Bees Sting?
Video of a Bee Sting
Why Do Bee Stings Hurt?
How to Prevent Bee Stings
Bee Sting Treatment
Sting Allergies
Apitherapy
Why and How do
Bees Sting?
Bees are
crucially
important for the pollination of flowering plants including many of the
fruits and
vegetables we eat as well the flowers we grow in our gardens. Despite the integral role
of bees in many terrestrial ecosystems,
many people have a fear of all things that sting. One
of the most important steps to overcoming
that fear is a better understanding of these insects.
Stinging insects use stingers for two main purposes: defense and predation. Honey bees and bumble bees use their stingers strickly for defense. Bees that are away from the hive foraging will rarely sting unless they are stepped on or unnecessarily aggravated. Theyare usually too busy searching for pollen and nectar to be bothered by a curious observer or passerby.
Both bees are drinking nectar and neither are bothered or concerned by the presence of the photographer. This illustrates the non-aggressive behavior both groups display while foraging
The bee stinger is
a modified ovipositor, although in
other insects (and in queen bees) comparable structures are used for laying
eggs, in worker bees the stinger is used just for defense. Males therefore do
not have stingers and pose no threat.
Honey bees, unlike bumble bees, can sting only one time
because their
stinger becomes detached after insertion.
The honey bee stinger is barbed while the bumble bee
stinger is smooth
and allows for repeated stings. The
stingers are attached to two main glands (the venom gland and the dufour's gland) that produce
the mixed contents of
the injected venom. A honey bee stinger
continually releases venom after it
is initially injected and after the stinger is detached, which
is why immediate removal is recommended.
The bumble bee stinger is smooth and allows for multiple stings.
The honey bee stinger has jagged edges that allow for an anchoring mechanism into the wound that does not permit multiple stings
Why Do Bee Stings Hurt?
The main components of bee venom that lead to pain are:
Although honey bee and bumble bee venoms are not identical, many of the allergens of the venom are the same and cause similar reactions.
How to Prevent Stings
As mentioned, bees are unlikely to sting unless there is a good reason. A foraging bee will not likely be the cause of a sting unless it is stepped on or mishandled.
A more likely cause of a multiple sting attack would be the disturbance of the hive.
Honey bees live in large colonies with many thousands of workers. They have an excellent communication system that uses pheromones to relay information about the environment, including intruders.
Honey bees at nest entrance
Although attacks are rare, certain precautions should be taken around a bee hive:
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It is common to see a swarm of bees hanging in a tree. Many people viewsuch a cluster as dangerous. In general, however, swarms are en route to a new suitable home and are very unlikely to sting. Before the bees leave their old home they gorge themselves on honey to provision the new nest; while gorged with honey, they have difficulty bending their abdomen to sting. The swarm usually don’t persist for a long period of time but if you are nervous or the swarm is in an uncomfortable place you can contact your local beekeeping association and they can come and relocate the swarm.
Honey bee swarm
Bumble bees live in relatively small colonies and generally have a more gentle temperament than honey bees. Even if a colony launches a concerted attack, the numbers are few too inflict much damage. As mentioned, bumble bees are able to sting multiple times; this distinction is one of the define differences between honey bees and bumble bees. The same precautions should be observesd as for honey bees. Be aware of bumble bee or honey bee colonies near your home but do not be afraid to take a peek at their wonderful behaviors; most likely they won’t even notice you.
Africanized
honey bees demand an increased level
of precaution. Africanized bees are hybrids between an African race introduced
into
Carpenter bees, mistaken
for humble bees,
are sometimes considered pests because the females construct their nests by burrowing into soft or aged wood, including wood house frames, fences, or decks. The males of this group often fly up to people but lack any stinger with which to inflict pain. Females can sting but
rarely do so unless
they are handled or aggravated.
Bee Sting Treatment
A honey bee
can
only sting only once and the stinger with the venom sac is detached from the
bee’s
body. The venom sac continues to pump venom through the sting into the
wound. This is why it is
important to remove the
stinger as quickly as possible to decrease the dose of venom injected.
There are many different ideas as to how to remove the stinger to
limit the
amount of venom received but it is common practice to scrape off the
stinger
instead of pulling it out because squeezing the sac to pull it out might push the remaining
venom
into the wound.
There are many medical and home remedies that people use to treat stings but the best course of action is just plain ice. You can also take an antihistamine to reduce the swelling and a painkiller to dull the ache.
Symptoms of bee stings include: swelling, reddening of skin, itching, and a dull ache and pain in the area. These symptoms will subside within a few days, but if they do not subside or if they worsen seek medical attention. If a headache develops, or you experience nausea, vomiting, swelling of the throat, difficulty breaking, cramps, or drowsiness, seek medical attention.
Sting Allergies
Most people have mild
reactions to bee stings but a small percentage of the population is
hyper-sensitive and can have severe allergic reactions called anaphylactic shock.
This reaction can be life-threatening and should be treated as quickly as possible. An allergic reaction to a bee sting
often begins with a
dry cough, eye irritation, or hives, and progresses to difficulty breathing, tightness in
the chest, and
loss of consciousness.
Anaphylactic shock can lead to death unless emergency
medical treatment is
administered. Those
people who are
allergic to bee stings should not only avoid situations where they can
get
stung but should also carry with them an autoinjector
injects a shot of epinephrine, a hormone that
stimulates the heart and relaxes the airways.
Here
are two examples of autoinjecters commonly used
People who are allergic to stings can undergo a desensitization program where a series of injections of venom are administered at increasingly higher doses until the body become tolerant. This process takes months to complete but has a high success rate. This program should be administered by a registered physician and should not be attempted on your own
Apitherapy is the medical use of honey bee products such honey, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, and bee venom. The practice of apitherapy, mostly the consumption of bee products, has been used for thousands of years. In modern times the use of bee venom to treat arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and scar tissue has become popular. Although many patients and physicians support the healing properties of bee venom, its validity of it as an effective treatment option is still debated.
As mentioned, exposure to venom can be dangerous and consulting a registered physician is absolutely necessary before starting any venom regiment; caution should be taken whenever dealing with venom.
References and Further Reading
Alford, D.V. 1975. Bumblebees. London: The Trinity Press.
Kearns, C.A., Thomson, J.D. 2001. Natural History of Bumblebees. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado.
Lensky, Y., Mizrahi, A. 1997. Bee Products: Properties, Applications, and Apitherapy. New York: Plenum Press.
Needham, G.R. 1988. Africanized Honey Bees and Bee Mites. West Sussex, England: E. Horwood; New York: Halsted Press.
Snodgrass, R.E. 1925. Anatomy and Physiology of the Bee. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.