How to Treat a Bee Sting

Metro Orlando FL | Kissimmee - Sanford - Leesburg

While the world of insects is truly a fascinating one that some people spend their lives exploring, most of us only care about the damage they can do. Generally, this comes down to mosquito bites and insect stings. So, unless you care about why fireflies along the Mae Klong River blink in unison or some other mystery involving creepy crawlers, below is what you need to know about bites and stings.

Which Kinds of Bees Sting?

Most common bees are capable of stinging, but bees in general are extremely reluctant to do so, unless threatened. Most bees are also capable of stinging twice, with the exception of the honey bee.

• Bumblebees can sting, but they don’t want to. These slow-moving “bumblers” won’t sting unless provoked, and even then they’ll need some convincing.
• Honey bees have a barbed stinger, which means that once they sting, they will die. A honey bee will not attack unless provoked. Avoiding swarms of honey bees is the best way to avoid getting stung.
• Carpenter bees have a tendency to get right up close to you as if they’re threatening you with their stingers. However, this generally has more to do with their attraction to motion (cruel irony for us, considering the first thing we tend to do when a carpenter bee gets close is flail our arms). The male carpenter bee isn’t capable of stinging. Female carpenter bees can, but they have to be extremely provoked before they’ll go that route.

How Should I Remove a Bee’s Stinger?

The longer the stinger stays in your skin, the worse off you’ll be. Pulling it out with a tweezers is a great option because you won’t run the risk of squeezing more venom into your body. However, unless you have a pair readily available, it really doesn’t matter. Just get the stinger out.

With the stinger removed, apply a cold compress. This will numb the pain and constrict your blood vessels, helping to stop the venom’s spread.

When Bee Stings are a Problem

When dealing with stinging insects, if you or the person who was stung, show any signs of a blocked throat, swelling hands or feet, or a swollen face–get emergency help right away. Allergic reactions to bees are fairly rare, but they can also develop over time: even if you’ve never had a reaction before, you can still be allergic to a stinging insect.

If you’re concerned about bees or other stinging insects around your house, give us a call! Heron Home & Outdoor will work with you to make sure your needs are taken care of, any problems are addressed, and any nests are removed safely. Call Heron today for a free estimate!

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