How Much Do You Know About Stinging Insects?

Although many people fear bees and other stinging insects because they think they are highly allergic, only about 5 percent of Americans are allergic to venomous insects. For most people, a bee or other insect sting will cause pain and swelling at the site of the sting, but nothing more.

These lumps are called hives and are a sign of an allergic reaction. A normal (non-allergic) reaction to a sting includes pain, swelling, and redness at the sting site. A serious allergic reaction to a sting can affect parts of the body far from the sting site and include flushing and swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, with difficulty breathing. You should seek immediate medical care if you or someone you know develops hives after a sting; has difficulty breathing; has swelling across a large area of skin; dizziness; tightness in the throat or chest; nausea or vomiting. If you are stung in the mouth, seek immediate medical help even if you are not allergic to a sting.

The majority of insect stings are caused by yellow jackets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yellow jackets are a type of wasp often mistaken for a honeybee because they are yellow and black. These wasps build their nests in the ground or in low-growing shrubs. Other insects that can sting include hornets, other types of wasps, and fire ants. Scorpions, a kind of arachnid that lives in the Southwestern United States, also sting.

You should try to remove the stinger as quickly as possible to limit the amount of venom that will enter your body, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Don't try to pull it out or squeeze it to remove it, because either of these actions can pump more venom into the body. Instead, use your fingernail or a dull knife to gently scrape the stinger out, by moving the nail or knife horizontally across the skin.

Leave this paste on for 15 to 20 minutes. Before applying the paste, however, wash the sting site gently with soap and water. A quicker, more effective method to relieve the pain is to take a liquid antihistamine within a few minutes of the sting. Other pain relief methods include applying a cold pack or cold washcloth for a few minutes, and taking acetaminophen.

Bees are attracted to bright-colored clothing. To help prevent stings, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Don’t wear perfumes that are flowery or sweet, and beware of wearing open-toed shoes. At picnics or barbecues, cover the food and beware of open soda cans (yellow jackets may fly inside because of the sweet flavor). Move slowly around bees and wasps; sudden moves, such as swinging at them, may cause them to sting.

Although cultivating flowers that bees don't find attractive will lessen the bee population in your garden, many other insects, including those that sting, are attracted to garden plants.

Insect repellents, including those containing DEET, have no effect on bees, hornets, or wasps. They are effective in preventing insect bites, however, so use a repellent when in an area where mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers, or biting flies are present.

Wasps, as well as bees and hornets, sting when they are threatened. They usually sting to protect their nest or territory. They also may sting if you swing at them or run around when they are near. They usually do not attack when not provoked.

You should get away as quickly as possible, particularly if a bee has stung you. A honeybee's sting releases an alarm pheromone (a kind of scent). The other bees from the hive will detect that pheromone and are more likely to sting you.