Bee Sting

Bees are social insects belonging to the Hymenoptera family. They are quite different from wasps. Bees are often raised for honey and wax production. However, it's important to understand if and why a bee stings. In this article, you will discover which bee stings (male or female), why they sting, and the symptoms of a bee sting.

Bees vs. Wasps: Who Stings?

You should know that bee and wasp stings are almost identical, but there's a key difference. After stinging, a bee leaves not only its barbed stinger but also its venom sac in the skin. A bee can only sting a human once. A bee's stinger is barbed, resembling a harpoon on the skin.

Bees are much hairier than wasps, which have straight, smooth hairs. Furthermore, wasps have a smooth stinger that allows them to inflict multiple stings. They rarely leave their stinger in the human body because it does not detach from them.

Only Female Bees Sting

It's important to note that, like any animal, bees exist in two forms: male and female. The male bee, specifically called a drone, is not responsible for stings because it does not possess a stinger.

Thus, female bees are the only ones that can sting.

Female bees, on the other hand, leave their stinger in the skin, but after stinging a human, the bee dies a few hours later. They also sting small animals that approach the hive. Note that a single female bee can inflict multiple stings on an animal without dying.

Why Do Bees Sting?

As a reminder, the bee is an insect belonging to the Hymenoptera family. The female bee, being the one that stings, does not do so without reason. Generally, a bee stings when it feels threatened or has been startled. As a social animal, it is not conscious of its own life or death.

It stings not only to defend itself but also to protect its colony, its hive, and ensure the survival of its species.

It sacrifices itself to fulfill its mission, which is to defend its territory. A bee may also sting you if it feels disturbed while working.

Symptoms of a Bee Sting

A bee sting cannot go unnoticed, as it immediately leaves a mark where the bee inserted its stinger. The venom it injects immediately causes itching, a welt, and redness. The swelling of the skin varies in severity depending on the area that received the sting.

However, the most sensitive body parts to a bee sting include the eyelids, lips, and neck—essentially all parts of the face up to the neck. Furthermore, if you are allergic to bee venom, a sting can lead to a severe reaction. Otherwise, the sting typically only causes a local reaction.