Bumblebees are interesting insects. Unfortunately, many people are afraid of them and consider them dangerous. Although bumblebees can sting, at least the females, they rarely do so and warn beforehand not to sting. As a rule, bumblebees only sting if you squeeze them, hold them or attack their nest. Tree bumblebees can become aggressive just by approaching their nest. Bumblebees get angry when their nest is opened. Bumblebee stings are no more dangerous than wasp or bee stings, but they are often more painful. How to protect yourself from them and what to do if you get stung, read the following text.
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Characteristics
- Belong to the real bee insect family
- genus bumblebees
- State-forming hymenoptera
- About 250 known bumblebee species
- 70 of them in Central Europe
- In Germany about 35
- A colony consists of about 60 to 500 bumblebees
- Only the queens and workers have a defensive spike
- The queen can grow to 23 mm
- The densely hairy yellow-black body is typical
- Life expectancy: Queen – up to 12 months, worker – 3 to 4 weeks
- According to the Federal Nature Conservation Act, bumblebees are a protected species
detect threat
Bumblebees rarely sting. You are not aggressive. The important thing is to be calm with them. Don’t hit them or their nest box. It is also better to refrain from waving your arms to drive away the bumblebee, just like picking up a bumblebee. Bumblebees sometimes react aggressively to odors such as sweat, alcohol or perfume. Jewelry can also emit odors, mostly oxidizing material through skin perspiration. Bumblebees don’t particularly like it either.
- If the danger for the bumblebee is low, it lifts its middle leg (always only the middle one) in the direction of the attacker. This is a clear warning
- If the bumblebee feels threatened, it growls, sometimes quite loudly, and turns on its back. She stretches her posterior with the spike towards the attacker.
Prevent a bumblebee sting
With the right behavior, a bumblebee sting can be prevented. It is always important to remain calm. Children in particular should be told how to behave.
- Don’t hit the insects!
- Remain calm and if possible not move when a bumblebee is on your body!
- Wait for it to fly again!
- Alternatively, wipe or shake off with one gentle motion!
- Don’t blow!
- Do not use perfumed care products!
First aid after a bumblebee sting
A bumblebee sting isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. Usually it hurts less than that of a wasp. Since the bumblebee’s stinger doesn’t get stuck like a bee’s and continues to release poison, a bee sting is also much more painful than that of a bumblebee.
As with most insect bites, the bite site may swell and turn reddish. The typical image shows a red dot with a white halo around it. The area burns and can become hot. The itching, which usually sets in after a while, is also typical. The symptoms subside within a few days, so that the sting is forgotten after a week at the latest. The swollen areas recede after about 24 hours.
If you have a non-allergic reaction, you can do the following:
- Cover the area with anti-histamine ointment (Fenistil or Systral)
- If you want to be on the safe side, you can take anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen
- Cool
- In the case of a sting in the mouth or throat, it is advisable to consult a doctor who will ensure that the airways are not blocked.
Home remedies after a bumblebee sting
Various remedies are recommended, such as dabbing alcohol on the area or placing a slice of lemon on the area. Both usually destroy the molecules from the poison, but also endogenous, intact cells and proteins around the puncture site. The commonly recommended hot spoon pressed on the puncture site only makes it worse.
The vitamin jelly (formerly jelly+E) from Retterspitz is better. Vitamin E binds free radicals and regenerates the skin’s protective barrier. Stressed skin can recover without chemicals. Acetic alumina (aluminum diacetate) is also recommended. Mix about a quarter liter of cold water and 2 tablespoons of acetic clay and then apply the whole thing to the bumblebee sting.
Sting healers – do they really help?
Sting healers are simple devices. Heat is used to treat the bumblebee sting, and of course other stings as well. The swelling should go down quickly and the itching should also subside quickly. There are no chemical additives. Everything works with heat. This changes the protein structure of the insect venom. A temperature of 49 to 53°C is generated for a few seconds. This causes a partial decomposition of the poison components. The Sting Healer requires batteries to generate a voltage of 3.6 volts. A built-in microprocessor controls the device. You can usually choose between two sensitivity levels, one for children and one for adults. A sting healer is similar to a pen. This is pressed onto the puncture site with the heating surface. The desired temperature is reached after 10 seconds.
Electrical stitch healers work with electrical impulses. The application usually has to be repeated frequently until relief begins. With the mechanical sting healer, the poison is drawn out of the sting site with negative pressure. Here, too, it is important to use it quickly, preferably immediately after the sting.
The Stitch Healers get pretty good reviews. Most users recommend the devices to others.
Bumblebee sting in allergy sufferers
Like a bee or wasp sting, people with an insect venom allergy can have major complications. It is not uncommon for those affected to endanger their lives as a result of a shock reaction. In this case, the emergency pack that allergy sufferers should always carry with them can save lives. In any case, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Allergic reactions never appear after the first sting. Only then does the body produce antibodies, which are then activated by a later sting and trigger the reaction. The dangerous allergic reactions often occur immediately, but can also be delayed by up to 30 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do bumblebees sting or bite?
Bumblebees have a stinger and they sting. Unlike bees, however, the stinger does not get stuck. It also rarely penetrates human skin on its own. You have to put pressure on it.
Does an aspirin pill help with a bumblebee sting?
You can dissolve an effervescent tablet with very little water until it becomes a thick paste. This is then painted over the sting site. The ascorbic acid pulls the insecticide out of the body, reduces swelling and cools down a bit.
