anyone know about bees and their stings?

[weekendwellies]

When I went down to the allotment yesterday I found one of the plot holders in his car. As you do I said hello, then noticed he seemed a bit shaken so stopped for a chat. He keeps bees, and apparently some had got into his suit and stung him. I asked if I could do anything to help, but he said he just needed to sit for a bit until the stings calmed down.
I assume that as a bee keeper he knows what is needed and offered a couple more times that I would do anything to help, or get help, but he kept saying it was ok.
It made me realise that, even though his bees never bother me, I ought to know what to do incase I or someone else gets stung while I am there.
Can anyone offer some advice please?

[rustylady]

Hi Wellie. Reading your post I realised how little I know about insect stings and bites. I did know that bees only sting once and leave the sting in your skin and wasps can sting lots of times. I know a bit about anaphylactic shock from work. Couldn't remember whether bee stings are acid or alkaline (old wives remedies, either vinegar or soda to counteract). I usually carry a tube of antihistamine cream in my pocket, cos I react quite badly to bites and stings, but googled and found this link Treating Bee Stings and Bites - Safe Gardening (UK) Hope it's useful.

[OllieMartin]

I believe you are at much greater risk if you are near the hive as bees will usually only attack in numbers if they think the hive is threatened.
A worker away from the hive will only attack if he is trodden on or knocked roughly. Other bees will only attack if they are close by.

The sting releases pheromones that warn other nearby bees of danger, provided you are not next to a hive this is not a great issue.

To reduce pain, remove the sting as quickly as possible and apply a cold compress. The acidic toxins are injected under the skin and so are not reachable by most alkaline or traditional remedies.

ref: Wikipedia.

[Nicos]

Wasps and vinegar
Bees and Dolly Blue(..when did you last see any dolly blue in the shops!)

I think the most important thing at the lottie is to ake sure you have a mobile charged up and if you are in an area with a signal....just in case you ever need to call an ambulance.

I always used to worry about the old blokes on our site- digging away in the heat of the day with their jumpers on!!!!

[TEB]

I did know that bees only sting once and leave the sting in your skin and wasps can sting lots of times.

Thats mainly only the honeybee that leaves the stinger in and then dies, other bees dont, the advice I was told was always get the stinger out as quick as possible but not by using tweezers and then a cold compress or similar, unless obviously allergic.

[Capsid]

It sounds like the chap may have had a mild anaphylactic reaction which can be life threatening. If you are allergic then you can be desensitised by repeated low dose injections of bee venom until you are unreactive. Maybe the chap at the plot ought to see his GP, if he hasn't already.

As for yourself, then I'd consider getting tested too.

[Madasafish]

weekendwellies said ", and apparently some had got into his suit and stung him. I asked if I could do anything to help, but he said he just needed to sit for a bit until the stings calmed down."


Having started beekeeping this year AND having had one bee inside my veil (my fault) I can imagine the feelings of annoyance and helplessness.. (For bees to get inside your suit is your own fault).

I carry antihistamine tablets ## when beekeeping and a few sealed toilet wipes. You MUST wipe the stung area to remove the phemerones the sting releases which attract other bees to sting you.

Other points: bees hate wool - they get stuck in it and sting. Ditto frizzy hairstyles. The best way to remove stings is run a finger nail along the skin and ease it out. Direct pulls tend to fail due to the barbs. Tweezers are good for afterwards when removing bits of stinger embedded in flesh.


### warning. Antihistamine makes sme people drowsy and feel unwell. As in Mrs Madasafish. Driving can be dangerous due to lack of concentration.

Swatting bees or wasps with hands or implements just enrages them. Breathe on them, or blow smoke at them.. They dislike human breath and smoke.. I have covered my veil with smoke. It stinks but it discourages bees. (cigarette or pipe smoke is as good as anything.. or bonfires).

So far I have been stung 4 times since May : the only one to hurt and react was a knuckle joint of middle finger which had a blood blister which had to be lanced to reduce the pressure..


And lots of stings all at once = bad shock for anyone, experienced beekeeper or not..

[Mac]

Ouch, ouch, ouch........my total fear is being stung again. I have been stung once by a wasp (didn't see it, but no sting) and my leg blew up like a balloon! Went to Dr's and he just said to take antihists to try and get the swelling down. I also react badly to midgey bites and cleggs - looks like I've put a golf ball under my skin. So now I use Skin So Soft whenever I'm going to be in areas with midges, take all manner of creams and pills whenever I go away anywhere to counteract any stings or bites etc...

On a recent first aid course was total - "V"inegar for "V"asps...and always scrap a bee sting out.

[Two_Sheds]

I've been working closely with bees (dozens & dozens on the lotty) for years & years, and the only time I was stung was at school when I picked a dozy bumble up, thinking it was dead. It wasn't.
The sting hurt, but nothing serious: allergic reactions are rare

[chris]

I've been stung in the neck before, but I was trying to waft a bee away from me when I was on the phone - I guess provoking it too much.

[lizzylemon]

Ive been stung by both and wasps for me are by far the worst. Not in a reaction (bees) but because wasps can and will just do it for very little provocation or none, especially later in the year when they're tired (some say drunk) and getting ready for hibernation.

Both have a bad reaction in me (i have scars) but I've let a bee crawl on my hand (with beads of sweat on my forehead) but never a wasp.

[Nicos]

We have a few hornets flying round here at the moment.....now those are REALLY scarey

[Two_Sheds]

Ive been stung by both and wasps for me are by far the worst.

They are nasty little bleepers aren't they? I have zero tolerance for wasps and have a travelling wasp-catcher for picnics etc. (cup of squash/diluted wine with a tinfoil lid, small holes pricked in foil. Wasps can't fly upwards, so they get in & can't get out again. Wait for them to drown themselves)

I got stung on the bot as a child when one flew up my skirt. They always pick me out of a lineup of relatives too, and will harass me until I put down my fruit/wine and go indoors. Bees are much nicer: I tell them to go back out the window and they do. Every time!

[gojiberry]

There has recently been a medical report released about the link between wasp stings and heart attacks and the figure seemed very high at the time although I can't remember the figure. However the report said that it was only the tip of an iceberg as a wasp sting can cause a heart attack up to two weeks after the initial sting and that this would not normally be picked up on a standard autopsy. Didn't remember how painful a wasp sting was until earlier this year when I picked one up with some grass.

Ian