Bumblebee sting: symptoms, allergy, treatment

Bumblebees actually are big beesbelonging to the same family as the latter: the apes. This family belongs more broadly to the Hymenoptera order, like the wasps where the hornets. But unlike the latter insects, bumblebees can be found outside of the summer period. In fact, bumblebees are the first and last pollinators active in cool weather. Like many pollinating insects, the bumblebee is a species threatened by environmental degradation.

THE bumblebees are characterized and differ from most bees by a corpulent figure and one significant hair growth. There is significant (usually territorial) variation in bumblebee coloration within a single species. The body of bumblebees is often covered with black and yellow edges. This insect usually measures between 6 and 25 mm in length but its size depends on the caste (since this insect lives in a colony inside a hive):

• There queenmeasures between 13 and 32 mm long.
• THE working women they are between 7 and 18 mm long.
• THE males they are between 10 and 17 mm long.

During its life cycle, the bumblebee has 4 phases: egg, larva, nymph and adult (or imago). Every year, the colony is renewed. Only the queen persists, using the spring to find a new location for her future colony. Bumblebees are strictly vegetarian. Larvae and adults feed on honey, nectar and pollen respectively.

i’carpenter bee (xylocopa violacea), also called purple xylocope O black bumblebee it belongs to the Apidae family (as do other bees and bumblebees).

This large, robust black bee has four translucent wings adorned with violet highlights. Its massive morphology makes it the largest species of wild bee: it can measure up to 3 cm in length and spread a wingspan of 5.5 cm. Its noisy flight is similar to a loud hum.

The xylocope is a pollinator, collects pollen from flowers with a tongue crowned by powerful jaws. This allows it to dig the wood to make its nest.

This harmless insect, which almost never attacks humans, can cause structural damage when it drills into wood to build its nest.

Only the female bumblebees sting thanks to his prickly or theirs soft bite. However, bumblebees are not aggressive, so they almost never bite unless they feel threatened. For example, if you walk them barefoot, or if you hold them between your fingers or in your hand or if you try to get close to their hives.

Bumblebees can also react aggressively when faced with a large number of odors (such as alcohol, perspiration, perfume…). Jewelry can also make them aggressive (due to the smell of oxidized materials between the skin and the jewelry). Bumblebees are also attracted to the color blue, especially light blue clothing.

Female bumblebees can inject peptides with neurological effects i minor allergens identical to bee venom, including own proteins. So if you’re allergic to bee venom, there’s a good chance you’ll have the same reaction to a bumble bee sting.

The bumblebee is not likely to break off its stinger or part of its abdomen after a sting. Like wasps, therefore, they do not die after stinging and can cause several painful stings.

The bumblebee bite is possible for both a male and a female. Bumblebees can bite when they feel threatened by their mouthparts.

A bumblebee sting is manifested by:

• a sharp, sharp pain at the point of the stitch;
• A swelling (edema);
• A redness of the skin ;
• from itching

These signs are short-lived. However, the bite may leave a mark or bruise for several days or weeks.

If you have a bumblebee bite, without waiting, disinfect the bite area with a neutral soap. You can also apply to cold packs at the site of the bite. In the rare cases where a bite in the mouth or throatyou need to go to the hospital immediately, as the swelling causes a danger of suffocation. Specific hospital care is then necessary.

Essential oils have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and soothing properties. Therefore, they are often suitable in case of insect bite. You can apply a drop of essential oil to the bite. Recommended oils include:

• Spike lavender essential oil (soothing) o official lavender (against itching);
• The essential oil of peppermint (refreshing and effective against edema and pain);
• The essential oil oflemon eucalyptus (anti-inflammatory);
• The essential oil of bourbon geranium (healing).

You can use a mixture of one or more of these three oils. It is also possible to mix them with vegetable oils.

Bumblebee bites are not dangerous unless they are allergic. Approximately 1% of the population has an allergic reaction after repeated bites (sometimes already after the second or third bite).

Allergic reactions appear very soon after the bite (from a few seconds to half an hour). There are 4 stages in an allergic reaction. The severity of symptoms increases from stages 1 to 4:
Stage 1 – itchingredness and swelling or even hives all over the body;
Stage 2: symptoms of stage 1, with digestive discomfort (vomiting, diarrhea);
Stage 3: symptoms of stage 1 and/or 2, with difficulty breathing and/or feeling of suffocation (angioedema);
Stage 4: Stage 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 symptoms, with palpitations, loss of consciousness, anaphylactic shock (with dizziness, excessive sweating, chills…).

If you notice any signs of allergy, you must consult a doctor to prescribe a antihistamine. However, immediate hospitalization is necessary in case of respiratory disorders. If these signs appear, you should contact the SAMU (15 or 112). The treatment involves an injection of adrenaline. People who know they are allergic should always carry with them a adrenaline auto-injector pen to be able to react as quickly as possible. Desensitization treatment could be prescribed to prevent recurrences.

Here are some easy-to-implement tips to avoid the risk of bumblebee bites:

• put on closed shoes during nature walks;
• Avoid staying with you sugary drinks (soft drinks, open fruit juices, etc.) or food;
• Avoid wearing smell or fragrant cosmetic products;
• If an insect approaches you, avoid it. sudden movements ;
• Do not disturb the bumblebees or their nests;
• wear and tear covering clotheswide and light in color.