The mood of the bees will vary depending on their genetics, the weather, and the time of the year. ![]() Bees will also be more defensive if there’s a dearth (lack of a nectar flow). Other queens aside, queen bees like to mind their own business and are usually not inclined to sting people.īees will become defensive if they’ve recently been disturbed, during bad weather, or by beekeepers who might be rushing and accidentally drop a frame or are rough with a box. The queen – who does have a stinger – has a non-barbed stinger that is typically used only against other queens in the hive. Worker bees are the primary concern, as they are the main defenders of the hive with their barbed stingers. Drones (the male bees of a colony) do not have a stinger. It is this defensive nature that a beekeeper needs to be aware of.īut not all honey bees can sting. When alarm pheromones are released, more and more bees come to help and one sting – not to mention many stings when a full hive of bees becomes defensive, is of a sufficient deterrent to keep the hive safe. Storing copious amounts of honey, bees have to defend a hive from all sorts of intruders – from wasps to bears and everything in between. Additionally, stinging a person is nearly always fatal for the bee, as their barbed stinger sticks in skin, damaging the bee itself as it pulls away. In fact, some people attempt to get stung on purpose – either by undergoing bee venom therapy or those beekeepers that subscribe to the belief that getting stung regularly is a good thing.Įven if you’ve caught a bee and are trying to get it to sting you on purpose – it can be tough! The bee mostly just wants to get away and head back to the hive. Generally, bees are not inclined to sting – they much prefer to go about their business. Less typically, a bee will sting in an effort to defend itself if attacked while out foraging and away from the colony, but this is rarer. Why Bees Stingīees typically sting as a means of defending their hive. Breathing is typically the most critical concern, and use of an EpiPen and immediate emergency medical care is required in these cases. While the great majority of people experience minor symptoms from bee stings, some people are severely allergic to stings, and for these people a bee sting has the potential to cause anaphylactic shock – when the symptoms of a sting spread not only from the immediate area of the sting but begin to affect other parts of the body as well. This creates a fence with two sides of beekeepers, and the science here is complex and best discussed with an allergist and/or medical professional. There isn’t a black and white answer here, and everyone reacts to stings a bit differently. However, on the other hand others say that bee sting allergies can develop over time from being stung too much. Many beekeepers report that getting stung somewhat regularly will lessen the negative effects of a sting – in essence they become used to it. As a beekeeper this is something you must be aware of, not only in regards to your own health but also regarding others who may be in close proximity to your bees.Īnother thing to be aware of is that reactions to bee stings can change over time. Enough however, for the bees to get their point across and to make you exercise a little more caution the next time you head out to your apiary.įor others however, bee stings have the potential to cause a systematic allergic reaction that can be a serious health concern and require immediate medical attention. While this risk can be mitigated and you may even be able to go months or years without a sting, it’s something you should always be prepared for.įor most, a bee sting is an issue of minor discomfort – some initial pain from the sting, with some swelling of the local area and itching to follow for a few days or even up to a week or two. There aren’t many guarantees when it comes to keeping bees, but eventually getting stung is one of them. While bees are, at least most of the time, of a peaceful nature, this built-in defense mechanism – especially when you’re dealing with a hive of tens of thousands of honey bees – is something a beekeeper will need to contend with on an ongoing basis.įrom bee suits to bee behavior, in this article we’ll look at bee stings and how to approach the possibility of stings when it comes to your bees. ![]() And if you’ve been beekeeping for any substantial amount of time, your answer probably won’t be “never”. When people find out that you’re a beekeeper, one of the most common questions you’ll find yourself answering is how often you get stung.
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