How many times have you seen a crowd of people scatter for cover at the mere sight of a single buzzing bee? Perhaps you were even one of those people. After all, nobody likes a bee sting. And with good reason – they hurt. For some people, bee stings can even be deadly! But this is very rare. With so much variance, it’s important to understand bee stings and the associated risk factors.
What Causes Bees to Sting?
Bees aren’t winged terrorists maliciously searching for their next victims. In fact, they are generally quite passive. Bees only sting when they feel their hive or themselves are being threatened. So, getting too close to or disturbing a hive or trying to harm a bee will likely trigger their defense mechanism. Left alone, bees go innocently about their business, collecting nectar and spreading pollen. They are very beneficial insects that account for the pollination of many of our food crops. Plus, they make delicious honey and many by-products that are useful to us.
For as passive as these little pollinators are most of the time, they do have a barbed stinger and will sting you if they’re provoked. When bees sting, they inject a small amount of toxin while simultaneously releasing alarm pheromones. These pheromones tell other bees that there’s danger in the area and to come quick. This is where things can get dicey, as there can be 50,000 or more bees in just one beehive.
Florida Bees That Sting
Florida is buzzing with diverse bee species—over 300 different types of bees call the state home. Among these, honey bees, bumblebees, and carpenter bees are some of the most commonly encountered.
While honey bees are usually the culprits behind most stings, they’re not inherently hostile unless provoked. Bumblebees, though larger and fuzzier, also prefer to avoid conflict but will sting if their nests are threatened. Carpenter bees, often mistaken for bumblebees, rarely sting, as only the females are capable of doing so—and they are not aggressive by nature. It’s worth noting that some areas in Florida may also encounter Africanized honey bees, a more defensive and aggressive variety.
How Dangerous Are Bee Stings?
A single bee sting won’t cause much more than minor pain, irritation, and itching for most people. Multiple stings, on the other hand, can spell trouble. According to the USDA, the average healthy person can receive 10 bee stings per pound of body weight and live to tell the tale. What this means, in theory, is that a 180-pound adult could be stung 1,800 times and potentially walk away from it with their life.
Multiple bee sting incidents are thankfully rare, as are deaths due to bee stings. On average, 40 people die each year from bee stings. In most of these cases, the victim had a pre-existing allergy to bee venom. For these people, a single sting can lead to anaphylactic shock, requiring emergency treatment. Often, people with known bee allergies carry injectable epinephrine – known as an EpiPen – to counteract the effects of a possible bee sting. Bee sting allergies can be serious. If you are stung by a bee and it elicits a severe allergic response, seek medical attention immediately!
Different Bee Stings
Not all bee stings are the same, and the reaction to a sting can vary depending on the type of bee. Honey bees have barbed stingers, which remain in the skin after stinging, releasing venom and alarm pheromones. This mechanism also means the honey bee dies shortly after stinging.
Bumblebees, on the other hand, have smooth stingers and can sting multiple times without losing their stinger. Carpenter bees are less likely to sting, but if they do, their sting is similar to that of a bumblebee.
Africanized honey bees, often referred to as “killer bees,” can deliver a sting comparable to a honey bee’s, but they tend to attack in greater numbers, which can make them all the more dangerous. Different bee stings can cause different reactions in people, and although most species of bees are docile, it’s important to exercise caution when stung. If you’re worried about your bee sting symptoms and think you may be having an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention.
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How to Treat a Bee Sting
For most people, however, one bee sting is not life-threatening, and treating it is fairly simple. The first thing to do is to determine whether the stinger is still embedded in the skin (it most likely will be). You can scrape it out with your fingernail, the edge of a credit card, or something similar. Never pull it out by pinching it with your fingers or tweezers. Doing so will squeeze more venom into your body. Once you’ve removed the stinger, wash the area with mild soap and cool water. Then ice the affected area in order to control swelling.
If the amount of pain is still uncomfortable for you, spray an anesthetic on the wound that contains benzocaine to help numb the area. Antihistamines can also help to reduce swelling and itching and you may also want to take over-the-counter pain medication, but the pain really shouldn’t last long. If you know you’re vulnerable, talk to a bee control specialist ASAP!
So, the next time you see a bee, remain calm and give her some space. Odds are, if you don’t mess with her (or her hive), she won’t mess with you. If you have any questions about bees or other stinging insects on your property, give us a call.
Does a Bee Die After It Stings You?
Does a bee die after it stings you? Yes, but only in the case of honey bees. When a honey bee stings a person or animal, its barbed stinger gets lodged in the skin. As the bee tries to fly away, part of its abdomen is torn away along with the stinger, resulting in the bee’s death. This unique feature is not shared by other bee species like bumblebees or carpenter bees, which have smooth stingers and can sting repeatedly without harm to themselves. The honey bee’s self-sacrificial sting is an evolutionary trait designed to protect the hive, even at the expense of the individual bee.
Need Help with Bees, Wasps or Hornets?
Stinging insects like bees, wasps, and hornets can pose a serious risk when they nest too close to your home or business. Whether it’s aggressive yellowjackets invading outdoor meals, carpenter bees causing structural damage, or hornets building nests in hard-to-reach areas, it’s crucial to address these issues promptly and safely.
At Florida Pest Control, we’ve been trusted for over 70 years to provide expert bee, wasp, and hornet removal across Central, Northern, and Southeastern Florida, and the Panhandle. Our highly trained specialists use humane and effective methods to remove nests, prevent infestations, and keep your property safe year-round. With state-licensed expertise and a commitment to environmental responsibility, we’ll handle your stinging insect problems with care and precision.
Don’t wait—contact us today for a free quote and reliable solutions tailored to your needs. Let Florida Pest Control help protect your family, employees, and customers from the dangers of stinging insects.
