The legend persists that bumblebees have no sting and therefore cannot sting. The bad news is, bumblebees can sting people. However, you have to make a lot of effort to get to know a bumblebee sting. This guide explains why the big, yellow and black bugs sting and how you can reliably avoid a conflict.

Bumblebees are extremely peaceful insects

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Can bumblebees sting?
  3. Possible to sting several times?
  4. Which ones don't sting?
  5. Bumblebee sting what to do?
  6. Prevent bumble bee stings
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. the essentials in brief

    • Bumblebees can sting humans if the furry insects are kicked, squeezed, or otherwise pinched and see their nest in danger.
    • Bumblebees can sting several times because the yellow-black bugs pull their stingers out of the human skin again after one sting.
    • Male bumblebees cannot sting because drones do not have a stinging device.

    Can bumblebees sting?

    Bumblebees only sting in extreme emergencies

    Fluffy, fat bumblebees are rightly said to have a peaceful disposition. Of course, the cozy buzzers don't put up with everything. In order to defend itself and its nest in case of danger, Mother Nature equipped the insects with a stinging device. This is a weir spike connected to a small bladder to inject a poisonous secretion. A bumblebee never stings immediately and without a tangible motive. Furthermore, the insect announces its intention with clear threatening gestures:

    • First warning: Bumblebee raises her middle leg towards the human
    • Second warning: Bumblebee turns on his back, growls loudly and shows his defense spike

    A simple approach to admire a busy bumblebee up close will not set off these warning signals. Anyone who touches the fluffy insect, takes it between their fingers or otherwise squeezes it has to pay for this crime with a painful sting. Accidentally stepping on a hidden bumblebee in the flower meadow is also punished with a sting. Bumblebees get really angry when they see their nest in the ground or on a tree in danger. Loud humming warns the approaching people: up to here and no further. If the warning is ignored and the nest opened, the human culprit will face a horde of angry workers.

    Bumblebees don't bite

    Bumblebees use their mouthparts exclusively for feeding. Their peaceful disposition does not even give the sluggish fur balls the idea of defending themselves against an attacker by biting. In any case, the mandibles are not strong enough to penetrate human skin.

    Can bumblebees sting more than once?

    There are no barbs on a bumblebee stinger. This circumstance enables bumblebees to pull out the sting again after a sting. Because of this, bumblebees can sting more often over the course of their short lives. However, the fluffy pacifists rarely actually use this ability. In particular, the bumblebee does not harass a stung victim with further stings, but quickly flees.

    In contrast, bees have barbed stingers that allow them to get stuck in the skin. If the bee flies away, part of its abdomen tears off. This means that bees are unable to sting more than once because they pay for each sting with their lives.

    Which bumblebees can't sting?

    Male bumblebees do not have spines

    In the tightly organized bumblebee colony, the males have a bad hand. This is especially true when it comes to their defence. The so-called drones are forbidden from owning a stinger. However, this fact does not prevent male bumblebees from simulating the existence of a defensive spine. In an emergency, drones emit the same warning signals as their spiked counterparts. Raising the middle leg and turning it dramatically on the back is what the males do to perfection. If you don't have a magnifying glass handy to look for the sting, you should therefore refrain from risky experiments to determine whether the bumblebee is stinging or not.

    tips

    Bumblebees are threatened with extinction and are protected. Natural hobby gardeners make an important contribution to species protection with inviting bee pastures in the bed and on the balcony. Seed mixtures such as Veitshöchheimer Bienenweide and Bingenheimer Bienenweide spoil bumblebees with a richly covered nectar buffet.

    Bumblebee sting - what to do?

    If a bumblebee's threatening gestures are ignored or not noticed, a bumblebee sting is the painful result. After the severe pain, other symptoms appear, such as severe swelling, redness and annoying itching. The pain subsides after a short time. All other ailments accompany the human victim for a few days to a week. With these targeted immediate measures and home remedies or a high-tech device, you can alleviate the consequences of a bumblebee sting:

    immediate measures home remedies High-tech
    ice compress Rescuer Spitz stitch healer
    cold water acetic alumina
    onion slice horseradish
    lemon juice

    Adults and children have no time for experimental self-medication if the sting was in the throat or pharynx. The injected venom causes swelling that can block the airway. To be on the safe side, small children and allergy sufferers should always see their family doctor if a bumblebee has bitten them.

    immediate measures

    Effective immediate measures alleviate the first symptoms after a bumblebee sting and shorten the duration of annoying after-effects. The best first aid supplies are usually available in the kitchen. How to act correctly after a bumblebee sting:

    • Locate the puncture wound and do not scratch it
    • Press an ice compress or ice pack onto the puncture wound
    • Alternatively, run ice-cold water over the area for several minutes
    • Cut open the onion, cut into slices and put the juiciest onion slice on top
    • Squeeze lemon juice onto a cotton pad and place on the bumblebee sting

    Onion slices and lemon juice are not suitable if the puncture wound is near the eye. However, you can put a cooling washcloth on to relieve the initial pain and counteract the swelling that begins.

    home remedies

    Numerous home remedies provide relief for a normal reaction

    We have to thank the legendary medical doctor Margarete Retterspitz for numerous effective home remedies. Since the end of the 19th century, the family business has been supplying supporters of natural healing methods with preparations that help against bumblebee stings, among other things. The classic Retterspitz healing water is just as important as the much-praised Retterspitz vitamin gel. Both preparations are applied to the puncture wound and thanks to their cooling effect, pain, swelling and itching are quickly forgotten.

    The power of nature is at work in acetic clay when you are suffering from the effects of insect bites. With good reason, the World Health Organization included the natural remedy in 1977 in the list of essential medicinal products. Are you troubled by a bumblebee sting? Then dissolve 2 tablespoons of acetic clay in a quarter liter of water. Apply the mixture and put a wrap around it. The home remedy is not suitable if the puncture wound has been scratched open.

    Is there a lack of rescuer tip and acetate of clay in the medicine cabinet? Then treat a bumble bee sting with fresh horseradish. Simply grate a toe and spread it over the puncture wound as thick as a finger. To keep the horseradish packet in place, wrap a clean cloth or gauze around it.

    stitch healer

    More and more people are not only allergic to insect bites, but also to natural and chemical remedies. So what to do if the human stab victim has an allergy to lemon juice, onions, Ritterspitz and acetic clay?

    This is where high tech comes into play in the form of a sting healer. The simple device promises rapid relief from itching, redness and swelling after a bumblebee sting based on thermal treatment. For this purpose, the pen-like device has a heating surface that is simply pressed onto the puncture wound. The healing temperature of skin-friendly 50 degrees Celsius is reached within 10 seconds. The duration of the treatment extends over 6 seconds. This short time is sufficient for most of the toxins to decompose without any chemical additives. The heat is generated with batteries and a modest voltage of 3.6 volts.

    digression

    Bumblebee-safe foods

    Careless handling of food is the most common cause of conflicts with bumblebees. From dawn to dusk, busy bumblebees tirelessly fly to up to 1000 flowers to collect pollen and nectar. A laid coffee table with cake, a sugar bowl and sweet drinks is just what a stressed worker needs. By keeping food and drink bumble-proof, you avoid confrontations with bumblebees and their sharp stingers. Cover foods bumblebee-safe. Drinks are served in sealed containers. These precautions also include spicy foods, such as grilled meats or barbecue sauces.

    Prevent bumble bee sting - tips

    Maddening a bumblebee takes special effort or a combination of unfortunate circumstances. So that the peace-loving insect does not even feel compelled to make the threatening gestures explained, simple rules of conduct make a significant contribution. How to successfully prevent a bumblebee sting:

    avoid conflicts

    If you don't hit the bumblebee, you don't have to fear aggressiveness from it

    An approaching bumblebee finds itself in the middle of a grueling workday lasting up to 18 hours. Their only aspiration is to harvest nectar, pollen, or sugary energy as food for themselves and the numerous offspring in the nest. By letting the furry insect do its thing, you avoid any conflict. How to do it right:

    • never hit a bumblebee
    • don't wave your arms
    • Do not blow on bumblebees
    • Do not block trajectory

    A small bowl with sugar water at a reasonable distance works wonders if you want to enjoy your coffee table on the balcony or terrace without bumblebees visiting.

    Be careful in sensitive areas

    Unexpected encounters with bumblebees do not end well for a person. Where the hairy insects are looking for food or prefer to build a nest, you should exercise caution from spring to summer:

    • orchards: only enter with shoes, avoid walking barefoot
    • rubbish bins and rubbish bins: do not reach in, just drop waste inside
    • compost heap: first check for bumblebee nest, then move

    Lawns and trees become a tricky zone when ground beetles or tree bumblebees set up their nursery there. Prudent hobby gardeners make a large area around a nest of soil with their lawn mower until it is vacated in July/August. Pruning treetops is postponed to a date in autumn or early spring when the pruning shears do not get in the way of the insects.

    frequently asked Questions

    Is a bumblebee sting dangerous?

    A bumblebee sting is less dangerous than a wasp or bee sting. The sting of a bumblebee does not get stuck in the skin. As a result, significantly less venom is delivered to the affected human. The stinging apparatus of wasps and bees have barbs that get caught in the epidermis and release toxins into the organism for some time.

    How often can bumblebees sting?

    Because their stinger has no barbs, bumblebees can sting more often. In contrast to the bee, a bumblebee retains its sting because it pulls it out of the skin again after a sting. The current victim does not, of course, become acquainted with the bumblebee sting again. Rather, the angry bumblebee flees with its unharmed stinger on board. As a result, bumblebees can sting more than once in their lifetime.

    We discovered a bumblebee nest in our garden. Is there reason to worry about increased bumblebee stings?

    If a colony of bumblebees lays its nest in the garden, you as a natural hobby gardener have reason to be happy. The nest is unmistakable proof that you are doing everything right and that the ecosystem in your green kingdom is in balance. Check the website aktion-hummelschutz.de to find out more about the bumblebee species, colony size and how long the nest will be inhabited. There is no reason to worry. Flight operations are usually limited to one to two insects per minute, even in large nests. If you heed the recommendations of this guide, you will not have to complain about bumblebee stings.

    Can you remove a bumblebee nest from the family garden?

    No, bumblebees are strictly protected and with good reason. The good-natured insects are massively threatened with extinction. When bumblebees and bees stop pollinating our crops, future harvests will continue to decline. It is therefore forbidden under penalty to disturb bumblebees, to impair their life or even to remove a nest. Instead, enlighten your children about the correct way to deal with the valuable natural jewels. A bumblebee's nest in the garden is the ideal opportunity to admire a wonder of nature up close. In late summer, the nest is abandoned again anyway, because the entire colony dies and only the young queens survive in a hidden winter quarters.

    tips

    Anyone who has to complain about poor harvests of tomatoes in the greenhouse relies on the help of bumblebees. In the mid-1980s, the Belgian amateur entomologist and gardener Roland de Jonghe was thoroughly tired of laboriously hand-pollinating his tomatoes in the greenhouse. Without further ado, he settled a nest with ground bumblebees in the middle of his tomato plants. The result was so overwhelming that today more than 1 million artificially bred bumblebee nests are used in greenhouses every year.

Category:

Animals in the garden