by Steve Christensen

Created on: April 28, 2010

Bees, wasps, and hornets are a part of life. Indeed, without them, our lives would be greatly diminished: 70% of our edible crops are pollinated by bees – including wild bees like orchard mason bees or bumblebees – and hornets and wasps help to control many of the pests (grasshoppers, caterpillars, etc.) that would otherwise destroy the plants that feed and delight us.

For better or worse, these insects – collectively known as hymenopterans – are endowed with a means of self defense that is painful, effective, and sometimes dangerous for interloping humans. Unfortunately, because of their ability to sting, all hymenopterans frequently get classified as “bees” that should be killed outright; much of this unreasonable fear stems from unpleasant childhood experiences or – alas – from lessons learned at parents’ knees.

Bee Stings Can Often Be Prevented

Anyone who has ever been stung will testify that no bee sting remedy works quite as well as not getting stung in the first place. Adults who can’t quickly discriminate among various species of stinging insects should take the time to learn more about these fascinating creatures; different hymenopterans exhibit different behaviors – some are so docile that they won’t sting unless they are trapped or threatened, while others are more aggressive – and several species of non-stinging insects (many of which are beneficial) resemble bees. Many a harmless syrphid fly has been dispatched by someone who simply reacted (it’s a bee!) to the yellow-black-yellow pattern on the fly’s abdomen.

Once parents learn more about bees and their kin, they should share what they know with their children. Youngsters should be taught that bees are beneficial, but the insects should be left alone to do their work – for some reason, the color pattern that serves to warn other predators in our world seems to fascinate some children…a sure invitation for trouble.

Important sting-prevention lessons might include:

-Bees are most active during the heat of the day; avoid flower beds at these times.

-Do not walk barefoot on lawns or in gardens; flip-flops can trap foraging bees, too, and the frightened insects will sting to defend themselves.

-Bees can be agitated by dark-colored clothing (many natural predators of bees and their nests have dark coats); wear light colors when outdoors.

-If you find you have stumbled into a nest of bees

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