Do bumblebees bite or not, do they have a sting and first aid after an attack

Bumblebees are fairly common insects throughout the world that belong to the family of true bees. Depending on the variety and gender, such individuals can have different sizes - from 7 to 28 millimeters. Most representatives are black and yellow in color. At the same time, not everyone knows whether bumblebees bite or not, and whether they have a sting.

Do these insects bite?

Bumblebees can indeed sting people, but only working females and queens do this.Drones are considered completely harmless. In addition, it is important to take into account the fact that bumblebees are peace-loving creatures. They use their sting solely for self-defense. On their own initiative, bumblebees do not attack people unless they commit aggressive actions.

Consequences of bites

If there is no allergy to the poison, a bumblebee bite in the first minutes causes only a sensation of pain and burning. After this, swelling, redness and itching of the skin around the bite area occur. Such symptoms should subside within 2-4 days without consequences.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ1LjosKu4w

An allergic reaction is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• sensation of itching, swelling and hyperemia of the whole body;
• nausea, vomiting and choking;
• increased heart rate, body tremors, increased temperature, joint pain - in more rare cases, fainting and involuntary contractions of muscle tissue are observed.

Urgent treatment to a medical facility is required in the following cases:

• multiple bites – more than 20;
• bite of a child, a person with chronic pathologies or an elderly person;
• damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth or eyes;
• allergy symptoms or history of serious reactions;
• suspicion of infection - in this case, there is a worsening of pain, swelling, trembling, and suppuration of the inflamed area.

How to Avoid a Bite

Bumblebees have a wide distribution. They build hives in ground crevices, on sandy cliffs, and in old stumps. Insects also often live in burrows abandoned by moles and mice. Finding bumblebee hives is quite difficult. Therefore, it is very important to follow the safety rules in such places:

1. Avoid insect habitats.
2. Remain vigilant in areas where bumblebees gather. This applies to counters with ice cream, fruit or sweet drinks.
3. Do not give insects a reason to attack. You should not touch them or actively gesticulate.
4. Avoid bright colors in clothing and give up perfume.
5. Do not attract insects with the aroma of fried meat or alcohol.
6. Avoid eating desserts, sugary drinks, melons or watermelons outdoors.
7. Install mosquito nets on windows.

Which bumblebees have a stinger?

Bumblebees have a stinger at the end of their abdomen. However, it is present exclusively in females, who need to protect their nests. The bumblebee sting is quite sharp, but lacks the characteristic serrations. That is why this organ is easily removed from the body after a bite.

Why doesn't an insect die after an attack?

There are no serrations on the bumblebee sting, so it almost never clings to the skin of the victim. Therefore, insects do not die after an attack.

Who is dangerous: a bee or a bumblebee?

The bumblebee and the bee are considered close relatives. They attack only when their life is threatened. At the same time, a bumblebee, unlike a bee, is capable of stinging several times. Bee stings are more painful. In addition, after them you need to pull out the sting. However, a bee can only sting once.

When bumblebees attack people

Bumblebees can attack people in the following cases:

1. If the clothes have a blue tint. This color has an irritating effect on bumblebees, which is why they show inappropriate reactions.Despite the fact that the sting is not capable of piercing fabric, the insect can cause damage to exposed parts of the body.
2. If a person emits a strong aroma of perfume, tobacco, or alcohol. In this case, there is a risk of attack by a whole swarm of insects that happen to be nearby.

Sometimes bumblebees react aggressively to the smell of oxidized metal. It appears when constantly wearing jewelry or watches. Metal oxidation is observed under the influence of sweat, which is released in the heat.

In addition, bumblebees are attracted to the aromas of sweet drinks, melons, and fried meat. Therefore, you should not have picnics near insect dwellings. This irritates the insects and can provoke their attack.

What to do after an attack

First of all, it is recommended to treat the affected area with hydrogen peroxide or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Also suitable for this purpose are ammonia or ethyl alcohol. To use such products, it is recommended to soak cotton wool with them and hold it on the damaged area.

In addition, it is permissible to soak a towel in cold water and use it as a compress. Thanks to this, it will be possible to slow down the process of absorption of the poison. In addition, this technique reduces pain and relieves swelling.

To draw out the poison, you can apply a piece of white compressed sugar dipped in water to the bite area. It is also useful to drink more sweet hot tea. If there is no improvement, medical attention will be required.

If you are intolerant to bumblebee venom, you need to take an antihistamine. For this, it is permissible to use “Diazolin”, “Suprastin”, “Claritin”, “Tavegil”. The following local remedies will help improve your condition:

1. "Fenistil gel" - can be used for children over 1 year old.The drug begins to act immediately after use.
2. "Advantan" is an effective remedy based on hormonal components. It starts working quickly. In this case, the drug must be used with extreme caution.
3. "Menovazin" is an effective menthol-based composition. It has antiseptic and cooling properties.
4. “Bepanten” - this ointment has anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
5. "Nezulin" - this cream is great for children. It has antibacterial properties and successfully eliminates the feeling of itching.

If a normal reaction to bumblebee venom is observed, and general health remains stable, you can resort to traditional medicine. In this case, you should use the following recipes:

1. Grind fresh leaves of dandelion, parsley, plantain and apply to the affected area. It is recommended to renew the product at intervals of 2-3 hours.
2. Take 1 small spoon of tansy flowers and add 200 milliliters of boiling water. Place the mixture on low heat and cook for 5 minutes. When the liquid has cooled, it needs to be filtered and used as a lotion for the area of ​​inflammation.
3. Apply a cut apple, tomato or potato to the bite site.
4. Rub the affected area with a cube of frozen milk. This must be done within 10 minutes.

Bumblebees are quite peaceful in nature, but sometimes they are capable of attacking people. Most often this occurs when exposed to irritating factors. If an insect bites you, it is important to provide first aid to the victim and monitor his well-being.