Why bumble bees sting

The female bees of both social and solitary species are able to sting when threatened. Male bees do not have stingers. Bumble bees , Bombus spp. They gather pollen, but they do not produce honey.

The worker bees and queen bee in a bumble bee colony are capable of stinging. Bumble bee colonies are organized around a queen bee, who can also sting, drones male bees and worker bees. Worker bees are sterile females, and are able to sting because the ovipositor has evolved into a stinger. A queen bee generally only uses her stinger to defend against rival queens. Because it is a smooth weapon, it can be used multiple times. This means that an angry bumble bee can potentially cause more harm than a honey bee because it is able to continue to sting.

It is also possible for the stinger to break off, but this does not always result in bee death. Bumble bees are not as defensive as honey bees, and must be provoked before they will attack. Attacks typically occur near the hive, as the bee will defend the hive and its stores of pollen. If a bumble bee is buzzing near you, it may be a male carpenter bee or a worker bee attracted to something sugary. Covering sugary substances to prevent the bee from sensing or accessing them, and moving away from the bee itself are often enough to prevent a bee sting.

But which bees can sting you, and which bees cannot? Like honey bees and bumble bees, they belong to the family Apidae, but unlike honey bees and bumblebees, they have a very small stinger actually a modified ovipositor which is ineffective for defence i. Read more about stingless bees. Male bees cannot sting Even among bee species that can sting, such as bumble bees and honeybees, males are unable to do so, although they may engage in defensive behaviours to protect the nest or hive.

Indeed some rather harmless bees can cause people to feel a little alarmed. For those unfamiliar with it, in some countries it is a relatively large species of solitary bee, which is often mistaken for a bumblebee. You can read more about this behaviour on my page about carpenter bees. Yes, as far as I am aware, all species of female bumble bees can sting, including the queens. If you accidentally step on one or try to handle a bumble bee too clumsily, it will probably sting you. Male bumble bees cannot sting.

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. Adrenaline stimulates the heart, constricts the blood vessels, and opens the airways. Adrenaline can be self-administered by means of an adrenaline auto-injector such as an EpiPen or Jext.

Adrenaline auto-injectors are only available by prescription, for instance if the patient has already had an allergic reaction to a bumblebee sting. Depending on local legislation, an adrenaline auto-injector may also be available at companies which work with bumblebees. Toxic reactions only occur when the victim is stung dozens of times in a brief period. General allergic reactions can occur in the nervous or circulatory system, such as cardiac arrhythmia or difficulties with breathing.

In this case as well, the victim should be taken to hospital for treatment and observation. In addition to a severe, level 4 allergic reaction, hyperventilation, perhaps as a result of shock, may also cause loss of consciousness. In such cases it is also necessary to call the emergency medical services immediately. People who use certain medicines beta-blockers and pregnant women are at increased risk when allergic reactions occur after a bumblebee sting.

If you have had an allergic reaction once, you will not necessarily have an allergic reaction to the next sting. If you had a level 1 or 2 reaction in particular, the chance is small. Reactions to bumblebee stings may differ in each case. These days it is possible to take a test using purified bumblebee venom to determine whether you will have an allergic reaction the next time you are stung. It is also possible to use the purified venom for a hyposensitization treatment.

Immunotherapy with honeybee venom does not necessarily protect patients with bumblebee allergy. This treatment is intended to desensitize the body to bumblebee venom. If you do not wish to undergo hyposensitization treatment, you can obtain a prescription for an adrenaline auto-injector such as an EpiPen or Jext from your doctor.

This can be carried with you and is used to inject epinephrine into the thigh in the case of a sting. Detailed information regarding medical treatment of allergic reactions is available from Koppert on request.

For further information, contact an allergologist or a doctor of internal medicine. Literature De Groot, H. Allergie voor insecten, Huisarts en Wetenschap ; 45 7 : De Groot, H.

Allergy to bumble bees. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol ; 6: A printed poster showing the images is available from Koppert. This poster is also available as a download URL. Tip: Add the contact information for seeking medical assistance and emergency medical treatment on the poster. This information is intended as an education resource only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem as it is not a substitute for medical care.