Stinging Insects

Bees, hornets, wasps and yellow jackets are stinging insects belonging to the classification order named, Hymenoptera. Common stinging bees are the bumble bee and the honey bee. Bumble bees are black and yellow with a hairy body. They tend to be slow moving and rarely sting. They often make their nests in the ground. Honey bees have a fuzzy dark brown body and yellow markings. They are not usually aggressive and tend to sting only when aggravated or provoked. Wild honey bees live in hollow spaces in trees or buildings. Domesticated honey bees live in man-made hives. The more aggressive Africanized honeybees are commonly found in the southwestern part of the U.S. They make their nests in protected areas, like holes in fence posts or the ground. Africanized honeybees may attack in swarms and sting continually.

Hornets are black or brown in color and can have white, orange or yellow markings. They make paper-like nests that are gray to brown in color and form a shape like a football.

Wasps have thin, elongated bodies and come in several colors. They may be black, brown or red and have yellow markings. They may live alone or in colonies, producing paper-like nests in sheltered areas, like trees or openings in houses. They may also build a mud-formed nest in a hole in the ground.

Yellow jackets are black with yellow markings and a round body with a tapered end. They usually make their nests in the ground, but can also be found in wood or cracks in cement structures. Yellow jackets are much more aggressive during the later summer/early fall, when their food supply starts to dwindle.

Preventing Insect Stings

Insects are more active during the spring, summer and early fall. Rob Danoff, D.O., a Family Physician with Frankford Hospital in suburban Philadelphia, says people can take steps to prevent stings by being aware of their surroundings. Look for signs of a nest in the grass or in wood piles, along wooden fences or side of a woodshed or home. Stay away from the insects and they typically won't bother you. If there is a large nest, call a professional to have it removed.

During outdoor activities, wear light-colored clothing and avoid scented products (like soaps, shampoos and fragrances) that can attract stinging insects. If a yellow jacket or hornet hovers nearby, move away from the area. Don't swat at the insect. Danoff says swatting makes the insect more angry and causes it to send chemical signals calling for reinforcements. Watch sweet foods and drinks that attract insects. Soda cans are especially attractive and insects may be drawn inside the can, stinging an unsuspecting person taking the next drink.

First Aid for Stings

Insect stings can be painful. The site may swell, turn red and become itchy. In most cases, the signs begin to subside within a few hours. However, there are a few things that can be done to ease symptoms. Check the site for the presence of a stinger. Most insects keep their stinger (which enables them to continually attack). However, a bee has a barbed stinger. When it attacks and flies away, the stinger, and a part of the insect's abdomen, remains behind. The stinger will continue to pump venom into the skin. Use a credit card or fingernail to scrape the stinger away. Don't squeeze the stinger because this action may cause more venom to be injected into the body. Clean the wound and, if available, apply a topical antibiotic. Place an ice pack to the site to reduce swelling. An over-the-counter antihistamine may also be taken to reduce symptoms. Danoff says a paste made from meat tenderizer and water can be applied to the site to inactivate the enzymes in the bee venom.

Some people have very severe reactions to insect stings, leading to a condition known as anaphylaxis. Watch for warning signs, like severe swelling, numbness or tingling in the mouth or throat and breathing difficulty. Patients who develop these symptoms should be taken to an emergency room for immediate treatment. Without intervention, the condition can lead to shock, unconsciousness and death.

Danoff says people who have gotten stung in the mouth or eyeball should also seek medical help since these locations are sometimes more likely to lead to a severe reaction. In addition, anyone who has experienced a previous severe reaction to an insect sting should carry an injectable dose of epinephrine. The drug will temporarily slow the onset of a severe allergic reaction. However, it won't stop the process, so patients still need to seek emergency help. Danoff says patients who have not had a tetanus shot in ten or more years should get a booster after an insect sting because insects can pickup the tetanus bacterium from the soil and transmit it through the skin.

For information on insect sting allergies: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

For general information on stinging insects: http://www.insects.org/entophiles/hymenoptera/index.html