The fat bumblebee, which seems so cozy to us, belongs to the wild bees. As such, it is out and about very early in the year and is responsible for the pollination of numerous plants - for example fruit trees. The buzzing insect only stings when it feels threatened. Read what measures help against a bumblebee sting.

Skin reactions to a bumblebee sting vary greatly

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. First aid
  3. home remedies
  4. How do I treat a bumblebee sting in my pet
  5. Can bumblebees sting?
  6. Is a bumblebee sting dangerous?
  7. What does a bumblebee sting look like?
  8. frequently asked Questions
  9. Can bumblebees bite too?
  10. I'm allergic to bee venom. Are bumblebees dangerous for me too?
  11. Is it true that aspirin helps against a bumblebee sting?
  12. Is a bumblebee sting more dangerous in pregnancy or in a small child?
  13. Can blood poisoning occur after a bumblebee sting?

    14. the essentials in brief

    • Bumblebees are very peaceful animals and rarely sting
    • Bumblebee stings should be chilled first; Rub lemon or onion slices on the sting to disinfect
    • See a doctor if you have an allergic reaction such as severe swelling, hives, gastrointestinal discomfort, or worse

    First aid for a bumblebee sting

    If no allergic reaction occurs, a doctor's visit is not necessary. Instead, you can use simple remedies to relieve pain and discomfort yourself. It is particularly important to cool the area with cold compresses or to hold it under cold running water. Alternatively, you can soak a washcloth in cool water, wring it out lightly, and place it on the painful area.

    However, be sure to use clean tap water or, in a pinch, water from a bottle you brought with you (such as mineral water, soda, or any additives) and clean materials. If dirt gets into the wound, it can become inflamed and lead to further complications. The swelling, in turn, can be treated later with special ointments available in pharmacies, such as Fenistil or Azaron. Try not to scratch the itchy spot! This, too, increases the likelihood of additional infection and subsequent inflammation.

    When should you see a doctor about a bumblebee sting?

    Even if a bumblebee sting is generally harmless, you should consult a doctor immediately if you experience the symptoms described below:

    • Sting in the mouth, throat, or throat: Here, with a bit of bad luck, a respiratory blockage can occur if the puncture site swells significantly and thus blocks the airways.
    • Allergic reaction: Anaphylactic shock is very rare but fatal. It is therefore urgently necessary to act quickly if there are signs of an allergic reaction!
    • Numerous bumblebee stings at once: The same applies if you have been stung by many bumblebees at once. In this case, the amount of poison can cause a toxic reaction - i.e. poisoning - which also requires treatment. But don't worry: Bumblebee stings are only potentially deadly if you are stung by 100 or more bumblebees at the same time.
    • unconsciousness: If the person who has been bitten is unconscious or shows other signs of shock, medical treatment is also urgently needed.

    How do I recognize an allergic reaction?

    As a rule, an allergic reaction after a bumblebee sting occurs only very rarely, and the affected person must have been stung by a bumblebee before. The prerequisite for an allergic reaction is the presence of antibodies that have arisen as a result of previous contact.

    Allergic reactions show up very quickly and can be seen a few seconds to 30 minutes after the bumblebee sting. They are divided into four different degrees of severity, all of which require medical treatment:

    severity symptoms Measures / treatment
    grade 1 Itching, swelling and reddening of the skin up to hives all over the body Medical monitoring (e.g. by a general practitioner) is advisable, since symptoms can increase in intensity
    grade 2 Symptoms of grade 1 plus gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting) Family doctor or hospital, administration of antihistamines
    grade 3 Symptoms from 1 and 2 plus shortness of breath and fear of choking hospital, emergency room
    grade 4 tachycardia, dizziness, unconsciousness, profuse sweating, shivering (= signs of anaphylactic shock) call an ambulance immediately!

    Every year at least 20 people die in Germany as a result of anaphylactic shock after a bee, wasp or bumblebee sting.

    Which home remedies help against a bumblebee sting?

    Disinfect and cool the onions on the bumblebee sting

    Our grandparents used to like to treat bug bites with home remedies like these:

    • Place a freshly cut lemon slice on the puncture site
    • or freshly cut onion slices / an onion halved
    • Alternatively, drizzle freshly squeezed lemon juice over it
    • freshly grated horseradish is also often recommended

    Although these remedies also show a certain effect, they can also cause problems. It is mainly due to a lack of hygiene when the bumblebee sting becomes inflamed - for example because the onion placed on the spot has transmitted germs to the wound.

    So it's better to do without grandma's household remedies, especially the hot spoon! This should be pressed firmly on the affected area and thus destroy the toxins. Unfortunately, the heat also destroys surrounding healthy tissue and causes additional pain.

    It is better to mix two tablespoons of acetic clay with 250 milliliters of water and apply it to the puncture site - but only as long as it is not scratched!

    How do I treat a bumblebee sting in my pet

    It doesn't matter whether you, your child, your dog or your cat have been bitten by a bumblebee: In this case, the treatment recommendations are the same for all creatures. A bumblebee sting is by no means fatal to your pet, but you can still play it safe and consult a veterinarian.

    Can bumblebees actually sting?

    Basically, bumblebees are very peaceful animals and only rarely sting - and only after they have clearly warned their attacker. You can recognize these warning signs if you observe the bumblebee closely:

    • Middle leg raise: If the bumblebee raises its middle leg, this is a clear warning sign and should not be interpreted as "waving" like in this video:
    youtube
    • stretching out the abdomen: On the other hand, if the bumblebee turns on its back and stretches out its rear end and stinger at you, you had better run away quickly. This bumblebee is about to sting and shouldn't be prodded any further!

    When do bumblebees sting?

    Like all stinging insects, bumblebees use their stingers to ward off enemies or threats. Although the peaceful animals do not sting immediately, they do react to threatening stimuli such as:

    • Hummel is harassed
    • detained
    • cramped
    • blocked the exit hole from the nest
    • the nest is opened

    So please don't make fun of poking around in the bumblebee's nest with a stick or picking up a small bumblebee for a close-up look. Be sure to explain this to your children if you do not want them to be bitten.

    Correct behavior in bumblebees

    Bumblebees should not be bothered

    You can avoid a bumblebee sting by simply avoiding conflict situations with the animals or by behaving correctly in such situations. Precisely because bumblebees are so peaceful, it does not necessarily have to be a sting: the little animals only sting when they see no other way out and even announce their intention. Don't be afraid, should such an insect land on you: it will probably mistake you for a brightly colored flower and, realizing its mistake, will quickly fly away again.

    How to behave correctly when dealing with a bumblebee:

    • stay calm, no hectic and fast movements
    • don't hit the bumblebee
    • don't blow on
    • don't poke it with your finger
    • Do not block trajectory
    • just deflect gently
    • don't scream, don't run

    For further prevention, you can also protect your house or apartment with close-meshed insect screens, then other insects - such as mosquitoes or wasps - don't have a chance to get in.

    tips

    Bumblebees sometimes react aggressively to strong smells - for example perfume, aftershave or alcohol. Therefore, avoid an obtrusive smell if you want to work in the garden. You should also avoid wearing blue clothing - especially light blue - as the color is also attractive to bumblebees.

    Do male bumblebees have a sting too?

    Only the queen and workers have a working stinger. However, the male animals - called drones - do not have this ability to defend themselves. But even if drones cannot sting, they still imitate the defensive behavior of female bumblebees: They also threaten, even if they cannot carry out their threat. But the enemy usually doesn't know that, because he would have to be able to distinguish between female and male animals. So always play it safe!

    Bumblebee sting vs. bee sting - Is a bumblebee sting bad?

    Of course, a bumblebee bite hurts a lot more than that of a mosquito. Nevertheless, a bee sting is much more painful because the stingers of these animals have barbs - and so the stinger together with the stinging device gets stuck in the skin of the victim. Bumblebee spines, on the other hand, have no barbs, instead the insect pulls out its stinging apparatus. Therefore, the sting is short - and also much less poison gets into the body. In short: as long as there are no complications (such as an allergic reaction or inflammation of the puncture site), a bumblebee sting is completely harmless.

    What does a bumblebee sting look like?

    You will feel a bumblebee sting immediately as the pain sets in immediately. The puncture site burns and often feels hot. After a while - it can be a few minutes, but also a few hours - the burning subsides, but now it starts to itch. Typically, the following symptoms also occur with a bumblebee sting:

    • Skin around the puncture site swells
    • turns red
    • The puncture site itself can be recognized as a red dot with a white halo
    • swollen area of skin up to four inches in diameter in most people
    • Swelling will subside after about 24 hours

    After about a week, all symptoms should have subsided. In some people, the swelling can also be significantly larger and subside more slowly. An allergy does not always have to be present. A bumblebee venom allergy is very rare: only about three percent of people have such a severe allergic reaction to a bumblebee sting that there is a risk of death.

    digression

    Bumblebee, wasp or bee?

    Basically, there are no big differences between the reactions to a bumblebee, wasp or bee sting, instead the symptoms and the appearance of the affected region are quite similar. The only differences are that the stinger and stinging apparatus must be removed immediately after a bee sting, and the swelling after a bee or wasp sting is often very severe. On the one hand, this has to do with the amount of poison injected and also with the frequency: Wasps often sting not just once, but several times in a row.

    The following video clearly shows the differences between the most common insect bites and also gives tips for sensible treatment:

    youtube

    How long does the pain last?

    The pain should subside after a few minutes. Instead, the puncture site starts to itch. The itching can last up to a week while the symptoms gradually resolve.

    digression

    Useful bumblebees

    The various bumblebee species are closely related to the honey bee and, like them, also belong to the colony-forming insects. However, such a bumblebee colony does not survive a winter, because the cute little animals only enjoy their lives for a few weeks. Nevertheless, the diligent flying artists are incredibly important for our garden, because without them we could neither harvest apples nor cherries. In contrast to the bee, the bumblebee flies at temperatures well below 15 degrees Celsius - it is protected from the cold by its thick fur.

    So it's no wonder that hobby gardeners should make the buzzing insects in the garden comfortable, for example by hanging up nesting boxes for bumblebees or freeing up a few spots in a conveniently placed insect hotel. If possible, both should only be installed where people and bumblebees don't get in each other's way too often.

    frequently asked Questions

    Can bumblebees bite too?

    In fact, bumblebees can also bite, for example to grab and carry away moss or other nesting material. The animal will probably also make use of this option if it has become entangled in clothing or hair and wants to free itself from it. In defense, on the other hand, the mouthparts are not used, only the stinger.

    I'm allergic to bee venom. Are bumblebees dangerous for me too?

    People who are allergic to bee venom must also be wary of a bumblebee sting, as the composition of the toxins of both species is very similar. For this reason, bee venom is basically no more dangerous than bumblebee venom, although a bee releases a significantly higher amount. The neurotoxin apamin is effective in both species. Incidentally, wasp venom has a different chemical composition.

    Is it true that aspirin helps against a bumblebee sting?

    In fact, aspirin or ibuprufen are very good remedies for inflammation that may occur as a result of a bumblebee sting. Both are anti-inflammatory drugs that you can take prophylactically - provided there are no other reasons not to do so. However, neither remedy helps against the bumblebee sting itself.

    Is a bumblebee sting more dangerous in pregnancy or in a small child?

    In principle, a bumblebee sting is no more dangerous for a small child or a pregnant woman than for any other person - unless one of the complications described above (fever, allergic reaction, sting in the neck or pharynx, etc.) occurs. However, allergic reactions are more common in pregnant women than in the non-pregnant population, so caution is advised here.

    Can blood poisoning occur after a bumblebee sting?

    If the bumblebee sting becomes inflamed, blood poisoning can actually occur as a result. Although this complication is very rare, it is deadly if you don't act quickly enough. Blood poisoning is often manifested by a high fever, but not always. Instead, very young or very old people in particular tend to have a low temperature, in which the body temperature drops to below 36 degrees Celsius.

    tips

    So-called sting healers are available in the pharmacy, which thermally treat the insect bite and work quite well. There are different versions for adults and children.

Category:

Animals in the garden