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Bee and Wasp Stings Bee and Wasp stings Integrated Pest Management for Home Gardeners and Landscape Professionals Nearly everyone has been stung by An individual Africanized bee can an insect at one time or another. It’s sting only once and has the same an unpleasant experience that people venom as the European honey bee. hope not to repeat, but for most people However, Africanized honey bees are the damage inflicted is only temporary less predictable and more defensive pain. Only a very limited portion of than European honey bees. They are the population—one to two people out more likely to defend a greater area of 1,000—is allergic or hypersensitive around their nest, and they respond to bee or wasp stings. Although this faster and in greater numbers than the publication is about stings from bees European honey bee. Figure 1. Yellowjacket. and wasps, the information pertains to stings from fire ants as well. SINGLE STINGS Stingers are effective weapons because Stinging insects are limited to the they deliver a venom that causes order Hymenoptera, which includes pain when injected into the skin. The wasps, bees, and ants. The stinger is a major chemical responsible for this modified egg-laying apparatus, so only is melittin; it stimulates the nerve females can sting. Most hymenopterans endings of pain receptors in the skin. live solitary lives, and their behavior The result is a very uncomfortable is more likely to be flight than fight. sensation, which begins as a sharp Figure 2. Honey bee. Social hymenopterans—including pain that lasts a few minutes and then yellowjackets (Fig. 1), honey bees becomes a dull ache. Even up to a (Fig. 2), bumble bees (Fig. 3), and fire few days later, the tissue may still be ants—have individuals in the colony sensitive to the touch. whose task it is to defend the nest. If the nest is disturbed, these individuals The body responds to stings by will defend it vigorously. In addition, liberating fluid from the blood to flush foraging members of the colony also venom components from the area. This will sting if they are disturbed or causes redness and swelling at the injured as they go about their activities. sting site. If this isn’t the first time the Some, such as the yellowjacket, are person has been stung by that species Figure 3. Bumble bee. much more likely to attack than others. of insect, it is likely that the immune For more information on the behavior, system will recognize the venom and biology, and management of this insect, enhance the disposal procedure. This skin when the insect leaves because the see Pest Notes: Yellowjackets and Other can lead to very large swelling around stinger is barbed. Remove the stinger Social Wasps listed in References. the sting site or in a whole portion of as quickly as possible because venom the body. The area is quite likely to continues to enter the skin from the The Africanized honey bee is closely itch. Oral and topical antihistamines stinger for 45 to 60 seconds following a related to the European honey bee, should help prevent or reduce the sting. Much has been written about the which is used in agriculture for crop itching and swelling. Try not to rub or proper way to remove a bee stinger, but pollination and honey production. scratch the sting site, because microbes new information indicates it doesn’t The two types of bees look the same, from the surface of the skin could be matter how you get it out as long and their behavior is similar in many introduced into the wound, resulting as it is removed as soon as possible. respects. Neither is likely to sting in an infection. Fingernails or the edge of a credit card when gathering nectar and pollen from are both effective tools. If a stinger is flowers, but both will sting in defense When the sting is caused by a honey removed within 15 seconds of the sting, if provoked. bee, the stinger usually remains in the the severity of the sting is reduced. PEST NOTES Publication 7449 Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program September 2011 September 2011 Bee and Wasp Stings After the stinger is removed, wash only by prescription from a physician. from kidney failure. It is important the wound and treat it. Several over- Antihistamines potentially have value for persons who have received the-counter products or simply a cold in combating non-life-threatening many stings at one time to discuss compress can be used to alleviate reactions but should be used according this secondary effect with their the pain of a sting. Aerosol or cream to a physician’s instructions. doctors. (Wasp stings are as potent antihistamine preparations that in this respect as bee stings.) Patients contain a skin coolant also can help. Another method of combating should be monitored for a week or If the sting is followed by severe anaphylaxis is desensitization. In this two following an incident involving symptoms or if it occurs on the neck approach, the patient is subjected to multiple stings to be certain that no or mouth, seek medical attention injections of the venom to which he or secondary health problems arise. immediately, because swelling in these she is allergic in increasing doses over areas of the body can cause suffocation. a period of time. Like hay fever shots, AVOIDING STINGS the tactic is to build up a protective Bees and wasps can be attracted to, or Anaphylaxis concentration of antibodies in the may react to, odors in the environment. blood that will intercept and tie up A small percentage of the population It is best not to use perfume, cologne, the venom components before they is allergic to wasp or bee stings. If you or scented soaps if you are going can reach the antibodies on the mast suspect that you or a family member into an area of bee and/or wasp cells. Desensitization with pure venom might be allergic or is developing an activity. Unless someone accidentally works about 95% of the time. allergy, go to a physician or allergist collides quite hard with or swats at for testing. Allergic reactions to bee MULTIPLE STINGS a bee or wasp, it is not likely to sting. or wasp stings can develop anywhere Avoid going barefoot in vegetation, on the body and may include non- Mass Envenomation especially clover and blooming life-threatening reactions such as Occasionally a person becomes ground covers. Also avoid wearing hives, swelling, nausea, vomiting, involved in a situation where he or brightly colored or patterned clothing. abdominal cramps, and headaches. she is stung many times before being If you remain calm when a bee or Life-threatening reactions such as able to flee from the nesting site. wasp lands on your skin to inspect shock, dizziness, unconsciousness, Depending on the number of stings, a smell or to get water if you are difficulty breathing, and laryngeal the person may just hurt a lot, feel a sweating heavily, the insect eventually blockage resulting from swelling in little sick, or feel very sick. Humans will leave of its own accord. If you the throat require immediate medical can be killed if stung enough times don’t want to wait for it to leave, gently care. Symptoms can begin immediately in a single incident. With honey bees and slowly brush it away with a piece following the sting or up to 30 minutes the toxic dose (LD50) of the venom is of paper. When swimming in pools, later and may last for hours. estimated to be 8.6 stings per pound watch out for bees or wasps trapped of body weight. Obviously, children on the surface of the water. If you find In allergic persons, venom components are at a greater risk than adults. In circulating in the body combine with bees or wasps in the water, it’s best to fact, an otherwise healthy adult would antibodies that are associated with remove them to avoid being stung. have to be stung more than 1,000 mast cells resting on vital organs. The times to be in risk of death. Most mast cells release histamine and other Stinging incidents often occur when deaths caused by multiple stings biologically active substances. This nesting areas of social insects are have occurred in men in their 70s or results in a leakage of fluid out of disturbed. Be observant of the area 80s who were known to have poor the blood and into the body tissues. around you. If you see insects flying cardiopulmonary functioning. Blood pressure drops dangerously to and from a particular place, avoid low, and fluid builds up in the lungs. it. If you are going to be in an area If this response isn’t reversed within Renal Insufficiency where disturbing a nest is likely, wear a short time, the patient may die of A second, potentially life-threatening long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. It anaphylactic shock. result of multiple stings occurs days might be a good idea to carry a military after the incident. Proteins in the surplus, collapsible mosquito/gnat veil Anaphylaxis, if treated in time, usually venom act as enzymes; one dissolves with you. Stinging insects often fly can be reversed by the effects of the cement that holds body cells around the top of their targets. Because epinephrine (adrenaline) injected together, while another perforates the stings in the face can be disorienting, into the body. Individuals who walls of cells. This damage liberates put on the veil, or pull a portion of your are aware that they are allergic to tiny tissue debris that normally would shirt over your head, and run away.
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