How to Treat a Bee Sting

Serving Louisiana & Mississippi

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 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 Do I Remove a Bee’s Stinger?

Again, the longer the stinger stays in your skin, the worse off you’ll be. Pulling it out with 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.

How Do I Treat a Bee or Wasp Sting?

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. However, any topical treatments like powders or creams are largely unproven. After all, the venom is below your skin. Hopefully, the above helps shed some light on a part of the animal kingdom most of us could do without. Always avoid insects that sting and bite, but when you become the victim, try to remember the above. Need more information about how to control stinging creatures in your yard? Contact Presto-X, formerly Fischer Environmental today to learn more about control options.

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