My Queen and Her Subjects Arrive - Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper - page 45

I blushed like a child being scolded.
Studies have shown, Mr. B explained, that a bee's alarm pheromones smell similar
to bananas. It's possible that my bees smelled the banana I'd eaten earlier—perhaps
there'd been some residue on my hands or clothes—and interpreted it as alarm pher-
omones. Who could blame them for electing to defend themselves?
Stinging Behavior
Honeybees simply do not fly about looking for someone to sting. They are
toobusycollectiingpollenandguzzlingnectar.Stingingisanactofdefense.
Beekeepers know this and acknowledge stings as a part of keeping bees. In
time, most beekeepers become indifferent and immune to stinging.
Stingsbywasporyellowjacketsaremorecommonthanhoneybeestings.
Honeybees will sting only if they feel their hive is under attack. The guard
beesarethefirsttotakenoticeofanintruderatthehive.Theirdutyistopro-
tectthehivefromdangerandtoalerttheotherbees.Themomentahoneybee
stings,itistheendofhershortlife.Althoughwaspsandotherbeescansting
more than once and survive, when the honeybees stings, her barbed stinger,
alongwithothervitalbodyparts,isrippedoutofherabdomen,andshedies.
Thelongerthestingerremainsinyourskin,themorevenomispumpedfrom
it. Quick removal cuts down on the amount of venom you receive, which, in
turn, decreases the pain or swelling.
Due to the alarm pheromones that are released after the sting, it's likely
that other bees will come after you. It's important to stay as calm as possible
and to not swat at the bees. Honeybees do not detect slow-moving objects,
so standing still or slowing stepping away from the hive is the best way to
avoidfurtherstings.Andyoucanalwaysuseyoursmokertoapplysmoketo
the sting, thus masking the alarm pheromone and confusing the bees.
Veryfewpeoplearehighlyallergictobeestingsandshowseveresignsof
anaphylactic shock when stung. Symptoms include shortness of breath, ab-
dominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhea. If you do get stung and are
allergic,scrapethestingeroutofyourskinasquicklyaspossible,usingyour
finger or a credit card, and seek medical assistance. Beekeepers are wise to
have an EpiPen or an injection of epinephrine handy for any emergencies
and for anyone showing these symptoms after a bee sting of any type. Api-
ary visitors who are allergic to bee stings should simply keep their distance