Bee sting reaction11/17/2023 The sting's injection of apitoxin into the victim is accompanied by the release of alarm pheromones, a process which is accelerated if the bee is fatally injured. Queen honeybees and bees of many other species, including bumblebees and many solitary bees, have smoother stingers with smaller barbs, and can sting mammals repeatedly. īees with barbed stingers can often sting other insects without harming themselves. Bumblebee venom appears to be chemically and antigenically related to honeybee venom. In addition, the polypeptide melittin is also antigenic. The three proteins in honeybee venom which are important allergens are phospholipase A2, hyaluronidase and acid phosphatase. The venom of the honeybee contains histamine, mast cell degranulating peptide, melittin, phospholipase A2, hyaluronidase and acid phosphatase. Honey bees are the only hymenoptera with a strongly barbed sting, though yellow jackets and some other wasps have small barbs. Honey bees will actively seek out and sting when they perceive the hive to be threatened, often being alerted to this by the release of attack pheromones (below).Īlthough it is widely believed that a worker honey bee can sting only once, this is a partial misconception: although the stinger is in fact barbed so that it lodges in the victim's skin, tearing loose from the bee's abdomen and leading to its death in minutes, this only happens if the skin of the victim is sufficiently thick, such as a mammal's. Honey bee stings Microscope magnified image of a queen wasp's stinger, showing stylus and barbed lancets The left side of the image shows the ≈4 ☌ (7 ☏) temperature increase (saturated red zone) caused by a bee sting after about 28 hoursĪ honey bee that is away from the hive foraging for nectar or pollen will rarely sting, except when stepped on or roughly handled. While bee stinger venom is slightly acidic and causes only mild pain in most people, allergic reactions may occur in people with allergies to venom components. The reaction of a person to a bee sting may vary according to the bee species. Bee stings differ from insect bites, with the venom of stinging insects having considerable chemical variation. For additional information visit Linking to and Using Content from MedlinePlus.The stinger of a honey bee separated from the body and attached to a protective dressingĪntihistamine, epinephrine (for allergic reaction)Ī bee sting is the wound and pain caused by the stinger of a female bee puncturing skin. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited without authorization. Links to other sites are provided for information only - they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. ![]() The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. ![]() Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy editorial process and privacy policy. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M.
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