Bumblebees bite or not: is there a sting and why they attack, first aid after an attack

Bumblebees are fairly common worldwide insects that belong to the family of real 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 it. Drones are considered completely harmless.In addition, it is important to take into account the fact that bumblebees are peaceful creatures. They use their sting exclusively for self-defense. On their own initiative, bumblebees do not attack humans unless they are aggressive.

Effects of bites

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

An allergic reaction is accompanied by the following symptoms:

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

Urgent medical attention is required in the following cases:

• multiple bites - over 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 severe reactions;
• suspected infection - in this case, there is an aggravation of pain, swelling, trembling, suppuration of the inflamed area.

How to avoid being bitten

Bumblebees are widely distributed. They build hives in crevices in the ground, on sandy cliffs, in old stumps. Also, insects often live in burrows abandoned by moles and mice. Finding bumblebee hives is quite difficult. Therefore, it is very important to observe safety rules in such places:

1. Avoid insect habitats.
2. Keep vigilant in bumblebee areas. This applies to stands with ice cream, fruit or sugary drinks.
3. Don't give insects a reason to attack. Do not touch them or actively gesticulate.
4. Avoid bright colors in clothes and give up perfume.
5. Do not attract insects with the aroma of fried meat or alcohol.
6. Stop eating desserts, sugary drinks, melons or watermelons outdoors.
7. Install mosquito nets on windows.

Which bumblebees have a sting

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

The protective device of the female bumblebee resembles a medical needle. It is just as sharp and hollow inside. A poisonous substance is supplied through the sting, the main component of which is bombolitin. It also contains phospholipase, a large amount of which causes the destruction of red blood cells.

Why the insect doesn't die after being attacked

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

Who is dangerous: a bee or a bumblebee

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

When bumblebees attack people

Attack of bumblebees on people is possible in such cases:

1. If the clothes will have a blue tint. This color has an irritating effect on bumblebees, because they show inadequate reactions. Although the sting is not capable of piercing tissue, the insect can cause damage to exposed parts of the body.
2. If a person emits a sharp aroma of perfume, tobacco, alcohol. In this case, there is a risk of being attacked by a whole swarm of insects that are nearby.

Sometimes bumblebees react aggressively to the smell of oxidized metal. It appears with the constant wearing of jewelry or watches. Oxidation of the metal is observed under the influence of sweat, which is released in the heat.

Besides this, bumblebees are attracted by the aromas of sweet drinks, gourds, fried meat. Therefore, near the dwellings of insects, you should not have picnics. This unnerves the insects and can provoke them to 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, ammonia or ethyl alcohol is suitable for this purpose. To use such products, it is recommended to soak cotton wool with them and hold them 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 attach a piece of white compressed sugar dipped in water to the bite area. It is also helpful to drink plenty of sweet hot tea. If there is no improvement, medical attention will be required.

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

1. "Fenistil gel" - it is permissible to use for children older than 1 year. 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 use of the drug is required with extreme caution.
3. "Menovazin" is an effective composition based on menthol. 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 sensation of itching.

If there is a normal reaction to bumblebee venom, and overall he alth remains stable, you can resort to traditional medicine. In this case, it is worth using the following recipes:

1. Chop fresh dandelion, parsley, plantain leaves and apply to the affected area. The tool is recommended to be updated at intervals of 2-3 hours.
2. Take 1 small spoonful of tansy flowers and add 200 milliliters of boiling water. Put the mixture on a small fire and cook for 5 minutes. When the liquid has cooled, it needs to be filtered and used for lotions to the area of inflammation.
3. Apply a cut apple, tomato or potato to the bite.
4. Wipe 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 able to attack people. Most often this occurs when exposed to irritating factors. When an insect bites, it is important to provide first aid to the victim and monitor his well-being.

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