Bee, or honeybee, is the word many people use to describe any
flying insect that has wings and a stinger. But honeybees are
really only one of a group of insects that includes other bees,
wasps, and ants.
Bees
are fuzzy insects that feed on flowers. There are thousands of
different types of bees worldwide, and they can be many different
colors. The most familiar kind of bee is the honeybee. These bees
build nests out of wax in old trees and manmade hives (like the
ones that beekeepers take care of) and spend a lot of their time
collecting nectar and pollen from flowers. Then they turn the
nectar into honey for food.
Wasps
are closely related to bees, but instead of only feeding on pollen
and honey, wasps eat animal food, other insects, or spiders. They
are not fuzzy like bees, but seem kind of smooth and shiny,
and they have skinnier bodies. There are also thousands of
different types of wasps in the world. Two common types of wasps
are bald-faced
hornets
and
yellow jackets
. Bald-faced
hornets
are black with white markings, and they build papery nests shaped
like footballs in trees and shrubs.
Yellow jackets
have yellow and black stripes on their bodies and are smaller than
hornets and honeybees. They make their nests in the ground or in
old tree stumps.
Ants
are small insects that can be brown, black, or red. Some have wings
and others don't. Some ants can sting, like the
fire ant
. Fire ants are tiny and reddish-brown and live in nests under the
ground.
What a Bee Sting Looks and Feels Like
Honeybees, wasps, hornets, fire ants, and yellow jackets may
look different and have different homes, but they all sting when
they are upset! If a person is stung by any of these insects, the
sting will feel a lot like a shot at the doctor's office.
The site of the sting will feel hot and it may itch. A red bump
surrounded by white skin will develop around the sting, except for
the sting of the fire ant, which turns into an itchy blister.
Wasps and many bees can sting more than once because they are
able to pull out their stinger without injuring themselves. Only
honeybees have special hooks on their stinger that keep the stinger
in the skin after a person is stung. The stinger gets torn out of
the bee's body as it tries to fly away. As a result, the
honeybee dies after stinging.
What You Should Do
If you think you have been stung by one of these insects,
tell an adult immediately
. Some people are allergic to stings from insects. The symptoms of
an allergic reaction include hives (red patches on the skin that
sting and itch), nausea, dizziness, a tight feeling in the throat,
or difficulty breathing. If these symptoms occur, the person needs
medical attention right away.
But more often, you can follow these steps after getting
stung:
- Have an adult help you remove the stinger, if one is left
behind after a honeybee sting. (It doesn't really matter how
it's removed. What
is
important is that it's removed as quickly as possible.)
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Apply some ice to the area.
- Ask your mom or dad for a pain reliever.
What a Doctor Will Do
You'll want to check with the doctor if you have redness,
swelling, or itching. Sometimes, the doctor will suggest giving a
medicine called an
antihistamine
to control these symptoms. If a person has an allergic reaction to
a bee sting, it's necessary for a doctor to immediately give a
shot that fights the reaction. People who know that they are
allergic to bee stings also sometimes carry emergency medicine that
they can give to themselves to prevent a severe reaction from
happening.
How to Avoid Getting Stung
The best way to keep from getting stung by bees is to avoid
places where they spend time, like gardens or orchards in bloom. If
you are going to be outside in summertime, keep your shoes on and
don't wear sweet-smelling perfume. Dress in long pants and a
lightweight, long-sleeved shirt. Avoid bright-colored clothing and
clothing with flowery prints. Cover food at picnics and don't
drink soda from open cans at a summer picnic or barbecue - yellow
jackets like to climb inside for a sip.
Stay away from garbage cans in summer that are swarming with
bees. If you suddenly see a bee flying around you, don't swat
at it or run around. This makes bees angry and upset, and they may
sting. Just move slowly or stand still instead, and the bee will be
more likely to move on.
Reviewed by:
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: September 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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