Why not stung by a

This means that the worker or queen can withdraw her stinger, and is able to sting again. When a honeybee tries to withdraw its stinger, it tears loose from the abdomen, taking the venom gland with it. Bumblebees rarely sting. The chance of being stung by a bumblebee can be reduced by avoiding provoking them or making them aggressive.

First of all, it is important to be calm when working with bumblebees. Do not wave your arms at the bumblebees, bump the hive, touch or hold the bumblebees, etc. Also, be aware that bumblebees can react aggressively to smells such as alcohol, perspiration, perfumes, scented soaps, aftershave, and so on.

Moreover, rings, bracelets and watches may cause aggressive behaviour due to the scent of oxidised material between the skin and the jewellery. Bumblebees are attracted to the colour blue, including blue and particularly light blue clothing. Wearing protective clothing can reduce the risk of stings. Bumblebees can sting through clothing. Usually a bumblebee sting leads to a non-allergic , local reaction: swelling, itchiness and redness at the site of the sting, lasting for only a couple of hours.

This can occur directly after the sting, but more generally it starts after some hours. The swelling or itching may last for hours or even days. In some cases, the local reaction may spread somewhat; in this case it usually takes longer for the symptoms to disappear. This still counts as a local, non-allergic reaction. Usually medical treatment is not necessary. Some measures can be taken to minimize the local reaction, in particular if the person was stung in a sensitive location, such as near the eyes.

As soon as possible after being stung, the person should take an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Cold compresses should also be applied to the site. In addition, a number of anti-itch ointments are available e. In the rare case of a sting in the mouth or pharynx, the patient should be taken to hospital immediately, because this can result in blocked airways.

At the hospital, the patient will be given corticosteroids such as prednisone and will be kept for observation. Because an allergic reaction involves antibodies formed during a previous exposure to an antigen, it is not possible to have an allergic reaction after the first sting. Allergic reactions usually become evident very soon after the sting from a few seconds to half an hour after the sting. In the event of a fever occurring or a grade 1 reaction, contact a GP.

The decision can be made to keep an eye on the situation and see how things go. A period of observation in hospital is desirable, as the reaction may increase progressively over time. In the event of vomiting, and definitely in the case of grade 3 or 4 symptoms, the victim should be taken to hospital immediately. If an allergic reaction occurs, administration of a prescription-strength antihistamine such as clemastine is useful. The antihistamine reduces the swelling caused by the histamine in the venom.

In the case of level 3 or 4 reactions, it is necessary to administer adrenaline first. Estimated read time:.

Raising bees can be an extremely rewarding agricultural enterprise. Interest in beekeeping has increased drastically throughout much of the United States.

Several factors have contributed to this increase such as the desire to produce backyard honey, provide pollinator sources and gain an extra source of income. When I have initial conversations with potential beekeepers, many of the questions I'm asked are grounded in myths that have existed for generations.

Unfortunately, these myths have stopped many individuals from becoming involved in beekeeping. While bees are one of the most beneficial agricultural insects, the following myths make bees one of the most feared and misunderstood insects. Don't let myths stop you from learning about bees. Not all bees can sting. For example, male bees cannot sting. The stinger, or sting, is a modified egg-laying device.

Therefore, only females have them. However, despite having a stinger, the females of many bee species actually cannot sting. Bees tend to sting to defend their nest, so most bees won't sting unless they are provoked or feel threatened.

Honey bee workers can sting other insects repeatedly. However, barbs in their stingers get caught in the skin of the animals they sting, especially mammals with thick skin such as humans.

Removing the stinger is fatal to the bee, so it dies afterward. Although wasps belong to the same order of insects, they are not bees. Bees are vegetarians, collecting pollen and nectar for their young. Wasps are carnivores. Some species can be very aggressive, especially if you disturb their nests. Bees are usually nonaggressive. The exception is Africanized bees, a species not commonly found in the United States. Do not try this. Honey bee, bumble bee and stingless bee worker bees females work very hard.

Females of the solitary bee species may only work for a couple weeks. Solitary bees live only a few weeks—just long enough to mate, build nests and produce offspring.

Honey and bumble bee workers and males live about six weeks. The workers spend half their time working on the hive and the other half foraging for pollen and nectar. The queens live longer. Bumble bee queens live up to one year, and honey bee queens can live up to four years.

If you've spotted large, black ants in or near your house along with small piles of what looks like sawdust, there's a chance you may have wood ants. As their name might suggest, wood ants — also called carpenter ants — can cause structural damage to wooden parts of your home. Summer is a great time for picnics, swimming, hiking and other outdoor activities.

But you're not the only one enjoying the sunny weather. Summer bugs and insects are having a good time, too, and when they bite or sting, it can put a damper on the fun.

The Northern Hemisphere is finally tipping towards spring, which means many people living in cooler climates will soon be trading out rakes and snow shovels for lawn mowers. Regardless of which region of the country you live in, however, anyone who enjoys working in the yard can tell you that ant hills can easily mar the most manicured of lawns. Diatomaceous earth is a versatile material to say the least.

Made from fossilized algae, it's a sand-like or powder-like substance that's used in everything from toothpaste to metal polish. It's also a popular insecticide because it's inexpensive and easy to use. Learn more about the different types of ants.

Ants are social insects, so when one ant enters your home, others may follow. Discover a few tips to help make sure ants get out and stay out of your house.

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