Why do people deliberately sting themselves with bees? When and why do bees sting? Why does a bee die after being stung? Removing a bee sting. Vegetarians and carnivores

Sting

-lu , -only ; nesov., pereh.

( owls sting).

To wound, digging in with a sting.

It was said that bees never stung him [the beekeeper] and he never wore nets over his face. Gladkov, A Tale of Childhood.

| decomposition About a snake bite.

She stretched out lazily - To forget forever, to fall asleep forever…

The snake easily, leisurely stings Her waxy chest. Blok, Cleopatra.

To dig into, to injure smth. prickly (about plants that have thorns, thorns, etc.).

2. trans.

To hurt, to injure with words, caustic remarks; to be sarcastic.

There is no laughter more stinging than the laughter of the most typical Irishman - Sir Jonathan Swift. Lunacharsky, Paris letters.

Small academic dictionary. - M.: Institute of Russian Language of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Evgenieva A. P. 1957-1984.

See what “to sting” is in other dictionaries:

Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

Someone, or sting, sting, prick, wound with a sting, a thin edge. Usage about insects, about stinging plants, nettles, sometimes about a needle and incorrectly about a snake. The bee stung. The bees stung him, stung everyone. Sting a little with a needle. Have pity... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

Cause suffering, bite, eat, eat, injure, sting, gnaw, bite, prick, sting, sting, injure Dictionary of Russian synonyms. sting 1. see bite. 2. cm... Synonym dictionary

STING, pity, sting, imperfect. (to sting), someone what. 1. Injure with a sting. Bees sting painfully. || Bite (inaccurately about a snake, horsefly, gadfly; see sting). 2. transfer Prick, burn (reg.). Nettle stings painfully. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

STING, liu, only; imperfect, whom (what). About insects, snakes: to injure with a sting, to bite. Bees sting. | Sovereign sting, liu, only; lazy The snake bit me. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

sting- 1. sting/and/t(xia)¹ (to sting). 2. complain/i/t/xya² (complain) ... Morphemic-spelling dictionary

See the sting... Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language by Max Vasmer

Nesov. trans. 1. Injure with a sting [sting I 1.] (about insects). Ott. decomposition Cause burning, stabbing pain with thorns, thorns, etc. (about plants). Ott. decomposition To bite (about a snake). 2. transfer decomposition To thrust (usually with a piercing weapon) ... Modern Dictionary Russian language Efremova

Bees produce food, substances that are used in cosmetology, medicine - and much more. The benefits from them are enormous. But still, under certain conditions, bees can sting and be dangerous to humans. But only for them this bite is fatal.

About the bee sting

Not all bees have a sting, but only some species. Also, bees are not always able to use their sting. For example, if the belly is filled with honey, then no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to use the sting, because the belly won’t bend. Bees use it not only to protect themselves from humans, but also when interacting with other insects. Also unique is the use of stings by queen bees. They never sting a person, even if the situation is extreme, but when meeting with competitors - easily.

When and why do bees sting?

Both scientists and experienced beekeepers confirm that bees sting only in exceptional cases. Bee attacks are the exception rather than the rule. The attack occurs when the insect begins to believe that the person represents to it real threat. For example, when a bee thinks that a person can do something negative towards the hive, or encroaches on honey. This is why beekeepers need protective suits because they give the bees the most reason to attack. A bee also stings if danger threatens it personally. For example, if you start squeezing a bee in your hand, then, feeling that it can be killed, it can easily use its sting.

Also, one of the most common examples is an overly pungent odor. Even very strong spirits are enough for the insect to react and launch an attack. Even if there is no perfume, it can react to the pronounced smell of sweat.

The color of clothing is also important. People dressed in dark clothes are stung by bees (and other insects) many times more often. It is not yet entirely clear what the reasons are for this to happen, but it has become a tradition - and a very effective one - to wear white apiary suits to minimize the number of bee stings while working in the apiary.

Another factor that bees react to is, oddly enough, bee venom. If you are stung by one bee, then the reaction of other bees to you will change dramatically. They will sense this poison - and it may become enough of a motivator for them to attack you.

Causes of bee death

As you know, after stinging a person, a bee can die. But it is also known that this does not happen when it stings another insect. The reasons are very simple. A bee sting occurs when it inserts its stinger into the skin of a person or the body of another insect. The bee's sting is designed in an interesting way - it is located behind the body and is built like a harpoon. It has special serrations that are directed backwards, which prevents the sting from being easily removed. In insects, the chitinous cover is quite thin, so the bee, with some effort, removes the sting from it without any critical damage to itself. But a person’s skin is very elastic and elastic, so a bee’s sting gets stuck there and it is almost impossible to pull it out. She flies away, leaving him covered in skin. Along with the sting, part of its intestines remains in the skin, as well as poisonous glands. Without all this, the bee dies, albeit not immediately. She is still alive for some time, but the wound turns out to be quite significant.

Deaths from bee stings

Sometimes not only bees die from stings, but also people whom the bees decide to bite. This happens rarely. Some people have a very strong allergic reaction to a bee sting, so the consequences can be anything, even fatal. But even those who are not prone to allergies may have a similar reaction if they are stung by several hundred bees at the same time. So it is better to avoid their accumulations if you do not have appropriate protection or if you have strong odors that can provoke the bee.

How to remove a bee sting

If you are stung by a bee, it is in your best interest to remove the sting as quickly and efficiently as possible. If the area of skin is not particularly sensitive, then theoretically it can be squeezed out, but if it is sensitive, then it is better not to do this, because squeezing only contributes to the spread of the poison in human body. It's better to take tweezers or something similar and pull it out without applying pressure. After this, it is recommended to treat the bite site with an alcohol solution, potassium permanganate or something similar. At worst, just rinse it off cold water or apply a damp towel. It is recommended to drink after a bee sting more liquid to quickly remove poison from the body.

With all the variety of phobias, it is no surprise that someone is terrified of insects. Basically, most people don't have any enthusiasm for them. But if many people are neutral about various ants and dragonflies, then stinging insects make them shudder with fear. Basically, people are afraid of wasps and bees, as their stings are very painful and sometimes cause severe allergic reactions. This fear is called cnidophobia, and like apiphobia, it is widely known everywhere, regardless of a person’s age. Moreover, a person is afraid of stinging insects, even if they are just flying past on their own business, or sitting peacefully on a honey plant and are not going to attack. The fear of contact with such insects is incredibly intrusive and persistent, and it is not so easy to get rid of it.

Fear of stinging insects does not develop in the same way, and it is completely irrational, because it is well known that insects do not attack people with the intention of stinging them. This only happens if, without noticing a bee sitting on a plant or any object, you accidentally disturb it or try to pick it up with your hand. And even then, the insect tries to move away. The only exception would be if you climb directly into vespiary or bee hive. That's when they sting, in self-defense. A bee, for example, bites a person and dies. Therefore, it is absolutely clear that there is no point in them biting just like that, out of nothing to do.

You should know that the bite of stinging insects is often completely harmless. And sometimes it is even used for medicinal purposes; everyone knows that bee venom helps in the treatment of many rheumatic diseases. But the peculiarity is that such bites are very painful, so it is not surprising that a person can develop cnidophobia. Studies have shown that cnidophobes are mainly residents of large cities, who sometimes perceive representatives of the insect world rather inadequately. Indeed, in prolonged mosquito nets It is difficult for insects to penetrate windows, and if the calm atmosphere of an office or apartment is disturbed by the unusual buzz of a stinging insect, this is a whole event. And here it is no longer clear who is in greater panic - a bee that came from nowhere, or people chasing after it with a magazine or a rolled-up newspaper in their hands.

All this, up to a certain point, may not be taken seriously, and even seem funny if adults behave this way, but such an impression is created only for those who do not themselves suffer from this phobia. Moreover, everything is much more complicated if a person first encountered a stinging insect bite when he was still a child. Also, ordinary fear very quickly becomes a phobia if an insect bite causes an allergic reaction. It is known that one or two bites, as a rule, do not cause severe allergies. But cnidophobes fear that anaphylactic shock, which they once experienced, may develop, so for them there is nothing more scary and dangerous than a peacefully buzzing bee.

But along with real situations that cause fear and panic, there are other reasons for the occurrence of cnidophobia. Psychologists assign a special role to the so-called yellow press, which often describes all sorts of wild stories, including those involving insects that can sting. There are many horror films in which the plot is based on the existence of huge mutating insects that sting everyone, and this is their purpose. Impressionable people can't just look and forget. All disturbing information remains in the subconscious, and can manifest itself after a fairly long period of time, when the film itself has long been forgotten, but the impression of it and emotions have become the reason for the development of cnidophobia.

People suffering from this phobia do not always behave in the same way; many of them are aggressive. They do not try to hide if they see a wasp; on the contrary, their goal at this time is to destroy it. They strive to kill the insect, and do not rest until they do this. In general, people with such a phobia diligently avoid going to places where they can encounter stinging insects. They don’t go for walks in the park, try to visit their dacha less often, and going on a picnic in nature is out of the question. It is enough to see just a picture of a bee, and the cnidophobe’s mood deteriorates; the person may quarrel with others who have nothing to do with it.

If the disease is more severe, then symptoms known from other phobias or anxiety disorders are observed. For example, a person feels severe weakness, sweats intensely, and cardiovascular problems arise. Dizziness, nausea, and trembling of the arms and legs often occur. In such a situation, it seems to the patient that something terrible and irreparable will inevitably happen to him. It takes a few minutes to calm down. The patient should sit in a quiet room and take the medicine prescribed by the doctor. Due to the fact that fear has no basis and is a consequence of the disease, it is almost impossible to convince such a person that the best way out is to get away from insects so as not to provoke an exacerbation of cnidophobia.

Oddly enough, there are bees that do not sting because they do not have a stinger. Despite this natural "disadvantage", these bees produce honey that is superior in quality to the honey of ordinary "evil" bees.

Stingless bees - meliponites - live in the tropical forests of Asia, Africa and South America. In total, there are 60 species of non-stinging bees in nature. They play an important role in pollinating crops and preserving biodiversity.

What is special about stingless bees?

Melipons do not sting, but this does not mean that they are not capable of active defense. Protecting their life and nest, they bite into the enemy with their strong jaws. But in general they are peaceful creatures and are even bred in households.

In the photo: stingless Melipona bees

Like ordinary bees, meliponas are social insects, although they do not have a clear division of labor. Unlike European bees, they build horizontal, vertical hives or even do without them. They store honey in "pots" different sizes, and tend to specialize in certain types of flowers of certain plant species.

In many countries, Meliponas collect honey by hunting in the surrounding forests. The average colony of this type of bee produces about 2 liters of honey per day. As a rule, this is a very aromatic honey with a mild bitterness and strong aroma, containing a large number of water. Therefore, it is customary to “drink” it, and not eat it with a spoon, like regular honey.

Residents of tropical countries consider Melipona honey not only useful product, but also valuable medicine, superior in its healing power to ordinary European honey. In particular, honey from stingless bees is useful in the treatment of eye diseases. Scientific research confirm that Melipon honey is the strongest natural antibiotic.

In the photo: nest of stingless bees

The most delicious honey is produced by bees from the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. Judging by archaeological excavations, the Mayans cultivated melipons and even worshiped them. They called these bees Xunan Kab, which translates as “Royal Lady”.

Unfortunately, in Lately The population of these bees in Mexico is rapidly declining due to deforestation, development Agriculture and urbanization.

The breeding of melipons has received the greatest development in Brazil, where in many areas the population prefers them over ordinary bees.

Attempts to breed stingless bees outside the tropics have been unsuccessful. The only exception is Japan, where one of the Melipon species is used for pollination in greenhouses.

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Being outside the city in the summer, we anxiously watch the buzzing striped insects, annoyingly besieging sweet dishes on our table. How is a bee different from a wasp, bumblebee and hornet? After all, they all sting not only painfully, but in some cases, dangerously.

However, it is known that honey producers do not attack first, and representatives of the wasp family are aggressive by nature, so you need to know how to distinguish one from the other and not neglect caution.

Beware: poisonous sting!

If bees flock to a sugar bowl or a saucer of jam, you should behave calmly, but be careful not to catch an insect with the spoon: a bite on the tongue or lip can cause swelling and even anaphylactic shock.
You need to be doubly careful with a wasp - you cannot irritate it, wave your arms, or make sudden movements. In addition, aggression can be caused by the smell of perfume or too much bright color clothes. The appearance of this insect in country house may mean that there is a wasp nest somewhere nearby, and this is already extremely dangerous: the bite of one individual will cause sharp pain and swelling of the skin, the bite of many can lead to the most severe consequences. Moreover, it is noted that they somehow sense people who are allergic to their poison and attack them.

Why do outwardly similar striped ground beetles have such differences in habits? Bees and wasps are two completely different families of the same suborder of stalked bellies, that is, having a thin membrane (“waist”) at the junction of the thorax and abdomen. The suborder is part of the order of stinging Hymenoptera.

Vegetarians and carnivores

The honey bee (Ápis melliféra) is a social insect that lives in families in which the responsibilities of all members are strictly regulated.

The head of the family is the female - the queen bee. The insect's body consists of 3 sections - head, chest and abdomen, and is covered with the finest chitinous hairs.
The bee is an absolute vegetarian and feeds on nectar, pollen and honey, which is fermented nectar. To collect and carry nectar, she has a proboscis and a special goiter. Pollen collection occurs due to hairs on the body and brushes or combs on the legs.
In the back of the abdomen there are 2 poisonous glands and a sting with serrations and a reservoir for accumulating poison. The stinging apparatus is designed primarily to penetrate the chitinous cover of insect competitors, and gets stuck in the skin of a mammal, including humans. In this case, the honey producer cannot pull out the sting, leaves it in the skin of her victim along with part of the intestines, and dies. 100-200 such attacks cause severe poisoning in a person, more than 500 - death.
Man uses not only the results of the vital activity of these amazing creatures - honey, bee bread, propolis, wax, but also bee venom. Healing properties its value is so high that an entire medical branch has developed on its basis - apitherapy. The poison is used to treat a wide range of diseases, primarily diseases of the musculoskeletal system, is used as part of medicines, and also in pure form. To do this, the insect is applied to the sore spot so that it stings. Treatment is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.

The bumblebee (Bombus) is a relative of Ápis melliféra and belongs to the same family. This is a large, thick, hairy hymenoptera: the female reaches 28 mm in length, the male – 24 mm. It is also a social insect, living in small families of up to 100 individuals.

The roles in the family are less clearly defined than among the inhabitants of the hives, although the basis of the family is the fertile female, the only one of the entire family who remains to spend the winter. The remaining members die by winter.
The nests are located close to the ground, under moss or between rocks, and consist of honeycombs made from rough wax or empty cocoons.
Bombus feeds on nectar and pollen and also produces honey. In many respects, bumblebee honey is superior to the product produced by the inhabitants of apiaries, but it is impossible to collect it in sufficient quantities - insects do not stock up, since the colony does not stay over the winter.
He is an unrivaled pollinator. Greenhouse employees are trying to attract it to their farms in order to improve the fruitfulness of plants.
The sting of this hymenoptera is hollow, without serrations, only females have it, which can use it repeatedly. The insect is not aggressive; it stings very rarely, but is painful. Swelling and numbness develop at the site of the lesion.

The external difference between the well-known paper wasp and honey bee visible to the naked eye: the body of the first is slender, smooth, the breast at the junction with the abdomen becomes thinner, the body of the second is more rounded and shaggy.

The wasp, in accordance with the entomological classification, is a representative of a special family, which includes many species. In our region, the most widespread are vespids, or the paper variety.

The name comes from the fact that these social stalked bellies chew wood and make paper out of it, from which they build spherical nests.
In the nest, the female builds a honeycomb and lays eggs there. Later they hatch into larvae. If the queen is removed, workers begin to lay eggs. The number of nest inhabitants during a season can reach several hundred, but in winter most of them will die. Fertilized females survive the winter and establish new colonies in the spring.
The main difference between vespids and hive dwellers is in the food system. Paper nest builders, like most species of the wasp family, are predators. Moreover, adult individuals feed on flower nectar and fruit juice, but their larvae require protein food. They chew flies, butterflies, pieces of meat, spoiled fish or carrion and feed their larvae in this way. Other species paralyze their victims - insects, caterpillars and spiders - with poison and lay their eggs in them, alive but immobilized. As the larvae develop, they feed on “fresh meat.” It is these differences between the wasp family and honey producers that explain its tendency to attack for no apparent reason.
The sting of these Hymenoptera is hollow inside, has no serrations, and is also an ovipositor. It does not get stuck in the skin of a mammal, and its owner can sting several times. Thin " wasp waist"contributes to the fact that the Hymenoptera can fold almost in half and strike in any position. The poison is much more allergenic than the poison of the inhabitants of apiaries, causing severe pain, swelling and cell destruction, especially in the case of an attack on the face - nose, eyes, mouth. Sad statistics confirm that every year several dozen people around the world die due to wasp attacks.
These stalked bellies are equipped with powerful jaws with which they inflict painful bites.

Video: wasps through the eyes of bees and a beekeeper.

Wasp giants

The danger increases if a person or animal is attacked by a hornet, the largest species of the aspen family. In temperate climates, the worker reaches 25 mm, and the queen reaches 35 mm.

Nests can be found near human habitation under the roofs of houses or barns.
They are 100% predators, feed on other arthropods and feed the larvae with them. They also include fruit juice in their diet, and do not ignore honey. For this reason, adult individuals cause great damage to apiaries, destroying their workers and robbing the hives.
The severe consequences of injecting poison are explained not by its quantity, but by increased allergenicity. Only females are equipped with a three-millimeter sting, which can sting repeatedly. The poison contains histamines, toxins, the substance acetylcholine and other components that cause irritation of nerve fibers, palpitations and severe pain syndrome. An allergic reaction in this case is accompanied by severe swelling and can have unpredictable consequences.
They are found much less frequently than the same vespids, and are less aggressive, they do not attack first. However, such a neighborhood in a country house or dacha is highly undesirable - an accidentally disturbed nest can turn into a tragedy.
There is nothing useless in living nature - every species, including predatory ones, takes up the necessary ecological niche. And yet, if a colony of aspen, and even more so a hornet, is found near human habitation, all measures must be taken to get rid of it.