The carpenter bumblebee is a rather interesting insect that has been preserved in nature since prehistoric times. Its characteristic feature is its purple color. The bumblebee chooses woody materials for habitat. These could be buildings, trees, pillars. The unusual name of the insect is associated with this. It is important to consider that the bites of black carpenter bees with blue wings can pose a threat to humans.
Description of the insect
In Latin this insect is called Xylocopa violacea. It belongs to the family of true bees and the genus Xylocope.Such individuals are distinguished by their large size and a number of other characteristic features.
Appearance
The distinctive features of such insects include the following:
- black color with bluish tints on the head and abdomen;
- large head with a powerful jaw;
- sparse hairs - due to this the body appears smooth;
- length – 2-3 centimeters;
- dark blue-violet wings;
- black antennae with red spots;
- pubescent paws and the back of the abdomen;
- presence of a sting.
Females and males have some visual differences. The hind limbs of males are distinguished by teeth. Females are characterized by smooth legs with small sharp processes. Males have gray hairs on the back.
Distribution area
The black carpenter bumblebee is a heat-loving insect. Therefore, such individuals are found in the southern regions and in the middle zone. However, global warming is gradually causing bumblebees to move to cooler regions. Today they live in the south and west of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Turkey. These insects are also found in southern Europe.
To build a home, insects, using powerful jaws, make a move that is an even circle. It is located on the south side of the tree and is first placed horizontally, and then goes down to a distance of about 30 centimeters. This move is required for the laying of larvae.
In the formed tunnel, the female begins to lay eggs.At the same time, she places a mixture of nectar and pollen down, then produces the first egg, seals the cell and makes a partition of wood. The next egg is laid on it. In this way the process is repeated 6-10 times. The entrance to the nest is sealed from above. The female guards the laying site for some more time and then flies away. By the end of summer it usually dies. In this case, the clutch remains in the nest for the winter. The emergence of young individuals occurs in the next season - in the first half of summer.
The benefits and harms of a bumblebee
The males of these insects cannot sting a person, but they are able to pursue those who violate the boundaries of the territory. Only the female can bite, but she will not attack without reason. In most cases, the insect will simply fly away at the sight of a person. Solitary bumblebees are characterized by a low level of aggression.
If an individual does sting a person, this poses a real danger to his health. Insect venom contains substances that affect the nervous system. Therefore, such bites are considered very dangerous for people with neurological pathologies. The black bumblebee also poses a threat to those who suffer from allergies. In some cases, insect bites even cause anaphylactic shock.
However, the black bumblebee has a calm disposition, and therefore bites people extremely rarely. The risk of suffering from the bites of such an insect is minimal.
Many people consider carpenter bumblebees to be pests that cause damage to wooden buildings. However, such individuals never build their nests in fresh and strong wood. Although insects have powerful jaws, they cannot damage such material. Carpenters make homes exclusively in old wood that has lost its density.Therefore, the presence of nests can be considered as an indicator of the quality of buildings or fences. If carpenters move into them, it means the material requires updating.
The benefit of the purple bumblebee is that it is considered an excellent pollinator. Such insects work even in bad weather. In search of food, they can move long distances.
A bite of an insect
Due to their dark color and loud buzzing, black bumblebees look very intimidating. Therefore, when bitten by such insects, many people immediately panic. It is aggravated by pain and rapidly increasing swelling in the affected area. In such a situation, it is important to immediately calm down and take all necessary measures. This will help avoid negative consequences.
Obvious symptoms
When stung by carpenter bumblebees, people usually experience the following symptoms:
- pain;
- local increase in temperature;
- itching and burning sensation;
- skin hyperemia;
- compaction of the affected area;
- edema and swelling.
Symptoms appear within the first minutes after the bite. This reaction usually lasts for several days. The specific duration depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Scratching the bite area will only make the problem worse. In this case, the symptoms will persist for quite a long time.
Some people develop an allergy to the sting. In this case, the following symptoms are observed:
- severe redness and severe swelling that extends beyond the affected area;
- rashes and large blisters on the body;
- damage to the digestive organs - manifests itself in the form of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- respiratory failure, development of suffocation;
- chills, increased body temperature, fever;
- problems in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
If you have a severe allergy to an insect bite, there is a risk of developing anaphylactic shock. This is a very dangerous condition, which is accompanied by convulsions, a feeling of lack of air, dizziness, and fainting. Multiple bites also pose a significant health threat. In this case, a person experiences general weakness, nausea, and heart rhythm disturbances.
Help after a bite
After a bumblebee bite, you need to take a number of steps to reduce symptoms and prevent serious consequences. Typically, it is recommended to do the following:
- Remove the sting if it remains in the skin. This will help avoid severe intoxication.
- Treat the affected area with an antiseptic. To do this, it is recommended to use hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, and alcohol. Thanks to this, it will be possible to minimize the risk of secondary infection.
- Apply a cold compress. This will help reduce swelling and manage pain.
- Take an antihistamine. This helps prevent or reduce allergy symptoms.
- Drink plenty of fluids. This will help remove toxic substances from the body.
- If you feel worse, call an ambulance immediately.
Killing the insect is not recommended as this may attract other insects. Experts do not advise scratching the bite site, as this causes the infection to spread. At the same time, drinking alcohol or sleeping pills is unacceptable.
How to avoid future attacks
To prevent attacks by carpenter bumblebees, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- do not make sudden swinging movements;
- do not wear bright clothes outdoors;
- do not walk on the grass barefoot;
- do not use perfumes with strong aromas;
- do not leave large areas of the body exposed.
Screens on windows help prevent flying insects from entering your home. If there are fruits or sweets nearby, it is important to ensure that insects do not land on them.
The black bumblebee is a fairly rare insect whose bites can pose a threat to health and life. If this does happen, it is necessary to provide timely assistance to the victim. This will help avoid negative health consequences.
