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Honeybees do have a barbed stinger, meaning they can only sting once. This means that the worker and queen can withdraw their stinger and are able to sting again. The stinger of a bumblebee or a wasp has no barbs. The response to a bumblebee sting can differ per incident, and per person. Occasionally (in approximately 1% of cases), an allergic reaction against the injected venom can develop. In humans, this generates a short severe pain that then eventually fades away. When a bee stings, some venom is injected into the body through the stinger. Further, the stinger is mainly used as a weapon for defense. Drones, which are the male bumblebees, cannot sting. This is also true with honeybees and wasps. Only bumblebee workers, which are the female bumblebees, and queens have stingers. In general, bumblebees are larger than honeybees and hairier than wasps. There are various subspecies with differing appearances, including different colors and patterns. In addition, bumblebees and honeybees are used as pollinators in agricultural and horticultural crops. In most cases, the bumblebee will then leave you alone.Bumblebees are found naturally in many countries.
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If the bumblebee has stung in a sensitive area, for example around the eyes, it is best to take anti-inflammatory medication (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) as soon as possible.īumblebee stings in the mouth or pharynx can block the airway. Cooling and lubrication with itch relieving ointment reduces the symptoms. In principle, medical treatment is not required for this reaction. This can last for hours or even days and the spot can expand a bit. This can occur shortly after the sting, but often it happens after a few hours. Please note: if you do not trust the situation, always call a doctor!Ī bumblebee sting causes swelling around the spot and causes redness and itching. Each reaction requires a different treatment. When someone is stung, different reactions can occur.
#BUMBLE BEE STINGER HOW TO#
It is therefore important to know how to treat a bumblebee sting. In most cases this only causes a lot of pain, but in some cases it can lead to an allergic reaction. Although bumblebees rarely sting, it can still happen that you are stung.
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#BUMBLE BEE STINGER UPDATE#
Written by Kevin van Kester | Last update 01-09-2019īumblebees are used as natural pollinators in greenhouses.
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