We’ve all heard the legend that once a bee stings you, it will lose its stinger and die. While that can be true in some species, many species of bees don’t even have stingers. Here in the Southwest, we will primarily encounter Africanized honeybees, carpenter bees, wasps, and hornets. The variety of bees that will often times die when stinging a human are varieties of honeybees. This is because their stingers are barbed. Human skin is much thicker than the exoskeleton of most other insects. So while bee stingers can remain very effective on other insects and not hurt the bee, once the stinger has pierced human skin, it typically gets stuck because of the barbs.
Unlike bees, wasp and hornet stingers are smooth. This is why when these stinging insects can inflict multiple stings without harming themselves.
Even though many bees will perish when inflicting stings on perceived threats, there are usually so many of them attacking that the victim is overwhelmed by numbers. That is why the majority of hospitalizations are from multiple bee stings. Wasps and hornets just don’t have the same vast numbers in most attacks.
Do Not Handle Bee Problems Yourself!
Bee or wasp problems are not DIY or weekend warrior projects. Homeowners that end up in the hospital underestimate how common hospitalization from insect stings really is. Bee colonies can quickly mobilize and inflict hundreds of stings in a very small amount of time once threatened, and it’s not an effective strategy to run away if you are already swarmed.
Get professional help and call Results Pest & Termite today. We can quickly assess your situation and offer solutions to get rid of your bee problem for good. Just call us today at 520-771-0668 or email us ane one of our helpful technicians can get started solving your bee or wasp issue.