Beekeeping and dealing with bee stings
WHY BEES STINGS?
Honey bees sting to defend themselves and their colonies against threats. The worker bees will attack by inserting their stinger into their opponents, releasing a dose of bee venom. Stinging is an act of sacrifice for the workers. The barbed stinger remains in the skin of their targets, ripping off part of the bee’s abdomen. But before dying, the bees will make sure to release alarm pheromones to recruit other bees to defend the hive. The drones and the queen do not participate in the defence of the colony. The drones are not equipped with stingers. As for the queen, one of the only times she will make use of her stinger, will be after she emerges from her cell to fight other virgin queens for the throne.
HOW OFTEN WILL I GET STUNG?
The production of venom requires a lot of energy for the worker bees, which means that they do not sting readily. They instead keep their defensive weapon for serious threats. A beekeeper will not get stung unless perceived as a danger. When starting beekeeping, most of the stings will be caused by clumsiness; for example, by trapping bees between your fingers while moving frames and boxes. How often you get stung will directly depend on your skills and practice of beekeeping.
The number of stings is also linked to the type of bees that you keep. Some bees have more defensive genes than others and should be avoided by inexperienced beekeepers (The European black bee and Africanised bees).
DO BEE STINGS HURT?
The pain from a bee sting varies depending on the location of the sting, the amount of venom that enters the wound, and personal sensitivity. Stings on the face and head tend to hurt the most. The stinger comes with a full sack of poison that will carry on pumping through the flesh if not removed quickly. Developing a resistance to bee stings is common amongst beekeepers, which means that the more you get stung, the less painful it will be.
HOW CAN I PREVENT BEE STINGS?
Stay calm: To avoid getting stung, bees should not see you as a threat. You must remain calm and operate gently when moving frames and hive boxes. Any banging, loud noise or aggressive movements will alarm the bees. You will notice their change in behaviour with a louder buzzing noise and more bees flying around you.
Time it right: You should have a clear plan of what you will be doing before you open the hive. The longer the hive stays open, the more heat will be dissipated to the outside. The bees will have to produce more effort to keep the temperature of the brood at 35 °C, which will put them in a stressful situation. The bees will become agitated and might react aggressively by stinging. You should not open the hive on cold and rainy days for the same reason.
Don’t wear perfume: strong scents can disturb and alarm the bees.
Wear protective clothing:
The best way to prevent bee stings is by wearing adequate protective clothing. Beginner beekeepers are advised to wear a full bee suit with integrated veil and gloves.Wear light-coloured clothes:
Bees have favourite colours, such as yellow and blue that usually help them identify the best source of nectar. On the contrary, they can sometimes dislike dark colours as it is associated with some of their natural predators. Beekeeping suits are usually made with neutral colours (white or beige) that bees tolerate well.Use smoke sparingly:
You should always perform hive inspections with a smoker. The smoke sends a warning sign to the bees that the hive might be threatened by a nearby fire. They react to the potential threat by gorging themselves with nectar to survive in their new home if they must leave. With a full abdomen, bees have more difficulties stinging. The scent of the smoke also covers the alarm pheromones sent by the guard bees. However, do not overuse smoke as it will have the opposite effect and irritate your bees.
WHAT TO DO IF I GET STUNG AT THE APIARY?
Do not run away or swat at the bees. This will attract more bees and incite them to attack you. Walk away calmly out of the flying path of the bees. Remove the stinger as quickly as possible. Do not pull it out as this will release more venom in your skin but scratch it off instead. Wash the wound with water and soap or disinfect it with an alcoholic solution. If you are worried about having a mild allergic reaction to the sting - like itching and moderate local swelling - you can take antihistamine tablets just after getting stung. Always ask for advice from your doctor or a health professional before taking any medications.
WHAT IF I AM ALLERGIC TO BEE STINGS?
Only two percent of the population has an allergy to bee venom and are at risk of developing a serious anaphylactic shock reaction. The symptoms include general swelling (eyes, face, body, throat), dizziness and violent rash. This is a serious condition and you should seek advice from your doctor if you have suspicions of being allergic. In very rare cases beekeepers can develop severe allergic reactions after being exposed to bee venom for multiple times. Some will carry on with their passion nonetheless. If you happen to be in that case, make responsible and informed decisions that will ensure your safety.
You can seek advice from your doctor who might prescribe you an EpiPen for emergency allergic reactions. You can also invest in a sting-proof bee suit that has been specifically designed for beekeepers allergic to bee venom.
TAKE HOME MESSAGE:
Getting stung is part of being a beekeeper and you should be willing to accept this fact. However, there are several things that you can do to keep the number of stings to a minimum. Wear appropriate protective clothing, use smoke, manipulate the hive with calm and confidence. Keep a disinfectant solution and antihistamines tablets available in your beekeeping kit. Bees have amazing adaptive skills: they will soon get used to you and will less often react defensively to hive inspections. Finally, remember that the joy and excitement that you will get from learning to keep bees is surely worth a few stings.
