Bees, Bees, Bees

Bees are flying insects and even though we may not like them buzzing around us or the like the idea of getting stung, we need bees. Bees are the main pollinators of plants, it’s one of the most important things they do - without bees we wouldn’t have our pretty flowers, honey and many crops would not benefit from bee pollination.

Not All Bees Are the Same

They are many different varieties of bees; the ones we know best are the bumble bee, and the honey bee. Typically these bees are not aggressive, only stinging when they feel their hive is in danger.

Most of the bee population consists of the queen, the worker bees (female), and the drones (male). The queen lays the eggs, the worker bees are the laborers, and the drones are there to mate with the queen.

Bumble Bees

Bumble bees are the furry, mainly black and yellow ones we see buzzing around our yard and you may even find a nest in a shady spot of your garden, in the ground. If you do happen to find a nest in the ground, consider leaving it and don’t disturb the area, they shouldn’t be around for more than three or four months and in that time they’ll pollinate your plants.

Depending on the variety of bumble bee, where they live, predators, disease, sprays, etc. can impact the lifespan of a bumble bee. The queen bee can live up to a year, but the worker bees might live a few weeks to a few months.

If the nest is threatened the queen and the worker bees are the only ones that can sting and can sting multiple times. Bumble bees make a kind of honey, not the same as made by honey bees - the kind we eat, they use to feed themselves and support their young.

Honey Bees

Honey bees look leaner and smaller and not quite so fuzzy and fluffy looking as the bumble bee, although they do resemble each other with the black and yellowish stripes. Honey bees are the type beekeepers keep.

Honey bees can make their nest in a cavity of a tree, the underside of the roof, crevices in rocks, etc. and unlike the bumble bee whose population may only be in the hundreds, the population of a honey bee hive can be in the many thousands.

The queen bee is very productive in her first couple of years and can live for several years thus living longer than the worker and drone bees. Worker bees may only live about a month or so as they are the busiest and most hard working bees of the hive.

Honey bees are not aggressive but will protect the hive if necessary, they can only sting once and then they die. Honey bees make lots of extra honey, which is why there are many bee farms that collect the honey for sale and distribution to companies.

Did you know if the queen bee dies a new one can be created? It’s true; a sexually undeveloped worker bee can be fed a diet of royal jelly enabling her to become a fertile queen bee.

Dealing with a Bee Sting

The worst part about bees is the sting. Some bees can only sting once, but there are others that can sting multiple times. Most of the bees we will encounter will only sting if they feel they are in danger, so if you see them flying around, stay calm, walk away and try not to swat at them.

After getting stung, the most important thing to do is get the stinger out as quickly as you can. After you have removed the stinger, wash the area with soap and water then place a cold, wet washcloth on the stinger site to help relieve the itching or swelling.

If after using the cold compress there is still some itching, you can also use calamine lotion. Do not scratch directly on the sting as this will only irritate it more. If you feel you must itch, spread your fingers wide and lightly rub around the wound.

If you receive multiple stings at once you should seek out medical advice.

Allergic Reaction to Bee Stings

Carefully watch individuals who have been stung for signs of allergies, swelling of throat, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Many times people do not know they are allergic to bee stings until after they have been stung. Call 911 immediately if someone stops breathing, loses consciousness, or says their throat feels tight.

Bees have their place in our world and we can coexist with them, we just need to give them their space.