You might have noticed that my avatar for commenting is a runner being pursued by bees. That stems from an incident in 2009 when I was attacked by a swarm of pissed-off bees while out running and I’m not really sure why. Anyway 50 or so stings was enough venom to put me into anaphylactic shock. I had to go to the hospital and I was brought back from death by two hits of epi in the ambulance. Before that, a bee or wasp sting had been no big deal. It would sting and itch a bit and then get better. The doc at the hospital recommended I carry epipens with me everywhere in case I was super sensitive stemming from that incident. So I had epipens in my kit in when I was stung by an exotic Amazonian jungle wasp, but there was no big deal from that, just the normal localized swelling and itching. But the true test is being re-exposed to exactly the same substance, so you guessed it I had a new encounter with my friend apis mellifera. The good news is it didn’t put me into anaphylactic shock but the bad news is that I am much more sensitive to bee venom than previously. My foot swelled up to the size of a football and for about a whole day after I didn’t feel too good. The moral of this tale is Respect the bee!
You need to change your perfume. I haven't been stung since I was a kid. Obviously there is something on you they like (or don't)
I don't wear perfume on a regular basis. I speculate that the mass attack was because I swatted a bee (thinking it was a fly) and whole hive happened to be swarming nearby. It was November (Spring in Australia) when bees are on the move, and they say the smell of a squished bee causes the hive to attack like that. All other bee stings I've ever got have been on the foot as the result of going barefoot or in flip flops and stepping on them.
Stung by a whole swarm. That's nasty. I can't imagine how painful that must've been. I haven't been stung since I was a kid but a wasp got me real good some years ago.
not the whole swarm! Swarms number in the thousands. Only about 50 of them managed to connect and plunge their white hot barbs into my bloodstream.
LOL! Bees! I hated them so much! Even wearing masks or some suit to protect me, I still got the hibbie jibbies and I am so scared! Though, I love honey, I hated the ones who gathered them.
oohh, that is kinda nasty. I haven't experienced to be stung by bees, maybe they like your smell.
Very intresting and valuable post. That’s nasty. I can’t imagine how painful that must’ve been. I haven’t been stung since I was a kid but a wasp got me real good some years ago.