Bees & Wasps

Bee and wasp stings cause several human deaths in the United States each year. The ability to sting, coupled with great mobility, make bees and wasps some of the most feared of all insects. Many species of bees and wasps are present in every region. Only a few of these species really need to be feared, however, and then only in special cases. Knowledge of their habits is the first step in reducing fear to a level of healthy respect.

Wasps sting repeatedly, but bees sting only once because bees have a barbed stinger that remains in the victim's skin. When the bee moves or is brushed away, the stinger is pulled from the bee's body along with the venom sac, which continues to pump venom into the victim. The bee dies after this one sting.

Most bees and wasps are social insects living in colonies, where tasks are divided among three castes: queens, males and workers. Queens are responsible for nest establishment and egg-laying. In most species, only one queen is present during most of the season. Workers are all females equipped with stingers. They constitute the vast majority of the colony's individuals. Males are usually small in number and appear for only a short time during the annual cycle.