Stinging insects cause fear in many people, but this fear, like the fear of going to the dentist, is often unwarranted. Just the thought of an animal being able to inflict pain makes strong knees go weak, and the knowledge that some people become allergic to and can die from bee stings exacerbates that fear - often to unreasonable levels.
Even more unreasonable are the fears generated by hyperbole of the media: "Killer Bees are on the Move" is guaranteed to sell papers, but what is not headlined is that the killer instinct becomes diluted as African strain "killer" bee queens mate with the more common Italian strain of bees.
Social and Solitary Species Differ
The word "wasp" or "bee" usually brings to mind the social insects where a single fertile female constructs a nest, lays eggs, feeds and protects her young while growing, and where the young adults stay at the nest to help raise their sisters and brothers. Social wasps and bees normally protect their nest by attacking intruders - sometimes being killed in the process, often stinging in groups when the intruder is near the nest. Their venom is used to kill prey and to inflict pain (often severe) in intruders. Social wasps and bees often sting if someone is merely in their chosen flight path or meanders near the nest. White faced hornets (Dolichovespula maculata) have been known to fly from the nest in groups attacking and stinging a person multiple times when walking more than fifteen feet from the nest. Yellow jackets (Vespula species) may also attack in groups, but usually because of active intrusion. They are often found in large numbers near food and individuals sometimes sting with little apparent provocation.
Solitary wasps and bees construct nest chambers built of mud, drilled into wood, or burrowed into the ground. The nest chambers are often constructed by the female and protected by the male. These insects mate frequently - sometimes each time the female comes to the nest. Once the chamber is constructed (or during construction), the female wasp begins to provision the chamber with insects or spiders that have been paralyzed with the female's venom. Bees normally provision the chambers with pollen. The female caps a filled nest cell after she lays an egg on the food source and leaves the young to fend for themselves.
Since solitary wasps and bees do not have large aggregations of relatives to back them up, they often revert to pushing and blocking the way to repel nest intruders. As their venom is used to paralyze their prey, these hymenopterans do not produce a particularly painful sting, and rarely use it in nest defense. Most solitary bees and wasps will sting if prodded with a finger or grasped by the abdomen, but usually do not sting if brushed against or their flight path is interfered with. Observers can sit or stand quietly directly in front of their nests with no fear of attack.
The group of bees called sweat bees often land on an arm, drink the sweat, and sting the arm that produces that sweat. The sting of these bees is hardly noticeable until several stings have been made - and even then, each sting is a minor annoyance. The sum of the stings may, however, cause swelling, drowsiness, and irritation in the unfortunate recipient. Thus, even though the stings are mild, the effects of the sting may be moderately uncomfortable.
Extreme Responses to Stings
Some wasps, such as the white faced hornet and the giant Asian wasp, have exceedingly painful venom that causes both pain and neurological disruption. A single sting from one of these powerhouses can immobilize a young child and possibly cause death. Multiple stings from this species are dangerous even to adults in good health. They should be given wide berth whenever found.
People who are allergic to bee stings appear to be sensitive to the stings of all such insects and may develop life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to the sting of a sweat bee. Besides carrying an epi-pen (to self inject epinepherine), these people must avoid contact with all stinging hymenopterans and be aware of first aid treatment.
Whether their stings are dangerous or not, bees and wasps are shunned by most people, and the fear of being stung can cause many to flee if any member of the order approaches. Sometimes this is for the best, but it is important to remember that unless they have become enraged, bees or wasps will sting a fast moving animal sooner than they will a slow moving animal.
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