Bee Stings/ etc: Where they nest and what to do

[Sammi]

Question: If someone has not been allergic to a single bee sting, can multiple stings by a swarm of yellow jackets or hornets or paper wasps still potentially kill them?

SJ

My uncle hit a nest of ground hornets while up cutting wood in the mountains and needless to say, they attacked him. He had multiple stings. He layed in bed for 2 days with chest pains (didn't tell anyone) but then asked to be taken to the hospital where had a major heart attack in the ER.

[sting]

I gotta chime in here....In 1988, while cutting fireline I dug into a ground nest of yellowjackets and was stung at least 50 times, head, arms, neck, inside and outside ears. Even found them in my pockets. Was medivaced and treated, no allergic reaction but incredibly painful. 2 weeks later I was stung once on the hand by a honeybee and it swelled up like a softball, but eventually went away with antihistamine. I have been stung a few times since but have never had a serious reaction. I still assume I will have a reaction if I am stung.

[abercrombie]

From theysaid:

Hi all. Thought I’d offer some “experience” and homework about our flying little friends of the forest.

The majority of my run-ins have been with what is called “meat bees”, (typical ground nesters you disturb dragging a hose over that communicate their displeasure in swarms). All kinds of excitement when you ride a pack string of mules over them or fall a snag they’ve set up house keeping in. Cat skinners and logs skidders have their own stories to tell. The closest I’ve found for an identification of them is Vespula Spp. Cmn Nm Yellow jacket. Although other Vespula are equipped on the N. end with jaws of sort, meat bees are the only ones I’ve observed that will bite and sting at the same time. The bite (from their saw teeth type jaws) is a high candidate for infection, probably due to their diet including garbage and rotting meat. Their sting of course may also bring on an allergic reaction.

Before the belt fire extinguishers known as Fire Kill were taken off the market in CA some years back, they were pretty effective against an initial attack by meat bees. I think it was the instant drop in temperature of the Fire Kill that stunned them, even in mid flight. At least it gave a faller several seconds to make a run for it. (I used it on meat bees several times - never did use it on a chainsaw fire.). I’ve no experience in the newer type belt extinguishers for quick draw self defense. Meat bees become much more aggressive towards the end of the season just before the first frost.

The Honorable Mouse.

[ka6gjn]

The important stuff's been covered. Here's something more to ponder:

"Meat bees," AKA "Ground bees," are officially Yellowjackets, subfamily Vespinae. Yellowjackets have the typical banded black & yellow abdomens. The queen is the only one that winters over. Her nest is only about an inch in diameter. Throughout the summer the nest grows larger -- hence the bigger attacks later in the season. Most nests are in the ground, but I've seen nests that were above ground.

Hornets are black, usually with white or yellow markings on the face and the tip of the abdomen. They're also members of Vespinae. I'm not aware of hornet nests underground, but I can't rule them out. I've seen enough of them above ground to satisfy me, and I don't go looking.

Anaphylaxis aside, of course, by far the worst single sting you can get is from the Northwest's "bald-faced hornet." This from personal experience.

Re: the "Stumpxxxxers:" Those horrific weapons on their behinds are oviposters, not stingers. I've never seen nor heard of anybody being stung by one, though somebody might have been scared to death. My Peterson Field Guide index doesn't have an entry for "Stump-anything." I'm sure they're Hymenopterids, and if I find them, I'll post what I find.

[Gizmo]

In my area, the "Stump **%er" usually applies to Tarantula Hawks .

If you have ever been stung by one of them, as I have, analphylaxis is the least of your worries (Not really). When they sting..... ewe.... I'll leave it at that.

[abercrombie]

And a "heads up" of yet a third kind that's circulating today...
Originally from Michael Cobbold, Safety Officer on the Shasta T and Mendocino.

Imagine you didn't use your truck for a while during the season when nests
are being built....

(Paper wasps nest picture)

You might want to think this might happen in buildings, or on tools,
materials that have not been used or moved since last year.

And make sure that you flag the danger until it can be addressed...

(Warning picture)
More on Bees, Stinging Insects, Allergic Reactions,... - - - > See
attached file: Bees-YellowJackets - Stings and Safety.doc (45 K doc file)

Michael Cobbold
Safety Officer
Shasta-Trinity and Mendocino National Forests

[fyreline]

Just a reminder that be bee season is beginning to underway in some areas. It would be good to read back through the posts and links.

fyreline

[ksengb]

Had a guy on my engine a few years ago while we were standing around in the morning waiting to go to work, took a swig from his bottled water, then loudly uttered some un-typeable expletives. A yellow jacket had flown in for a drink, and he took it right in without realizing it. Instinctively, feeling something in his mouth as he drank, he trapped it with his tongue to spit out - and promptly got stung squarely in the tongue. He made it clear that was really unpleasnt.

Reminder to all - if there's any chance you're allergic, make sure you have a CURRENT epi-pen with you. Depending on the assignment, you can't be assured that anyone else will have one, it's YOUR responsible to bring any prescription item you may need. Check and make sure it's not expired. I'd keep two, one in my line gear, and one on my person, in case you're at supper and get stung without your gear or something.

[William Riggles]

When you see a bee tagging around, take a moment and look around for more. Listen! Look around for a swarm!

Like the old cartoons, bees do fly at their target stinger first! I had a lone honey bee hit me between the eyes on my forehead as I was hiking uphill with my saw on my shoulder. I was out of breath and half delirious but I remember seeing this little dot headed for me. Bam!

Tarantula Hawk? I think I have been bit by one once, (others claim they have been stung). I've had them all over me and the only time I think they bite is when they get under your clothing.

Haven't heard much about killer bees lately.

[abercrombie]

This photo of a Stump F-word-er came in last Sept from MG, "the meat". Wanted to post it on this thread.

It is a wasp, in this case on a redwood. It does look like a "tarantula hawk".

http://www.wildlandfire.com/pics/oth...mp-f-close.jpg