Immune from Bees

[jeff of pa]

 

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[PaleIO]

I am actually in the process of building my first hive. I have a feeling I will not have the same luck as little Esther....not looking forward to strings

 

[Gold Maven]

Today child protective services would be called

 

[jeff of pa]

Since she was Never stung by a Bee at a young age ,
I wonder if she eventually Became allergic to stings

 

[battlecat]

Thats a great super power that I wish I had.... I still remember my first wasp sting in preschool and Im in my mid 40s now. Stung me right on the neck

 

[jeff of pa]

I remember Stings as Feeling like being poked with Electricity .
Though Ever since I stepped on a nest in a rotten Log, & the Bees went straight up my Pants Leg & Shirt.
Single stings don't bother me. I just Rub the spot and Move on.

I've always been the One to Volunteer to destroy Nests for friends.

 

[coin pirate]

Actually, some people are naturally immune, but if you're not, getting stung doesn't necessarily start to develop immunity, in fact the opposite, you become more susceptible to the venom affects.

 

[dts52]

My Dad used to keep bees. Never wore any protective equipment. On the few occasions I helped him, I was in more PPE than workers in a nuclear reactor - helmet, net, suit with wrists and cuffs taped, etc. Seems that every time at least one bee would find her way in and sting me. While my Dad said that the stings didn’t hurt him, I felt like I had been shot with a pellet gun. Dad never quite understood that. BTW, honey bees can only sting once. It rips out their abdomen and they die. When they sting they release a pheromone that directs the other hive members to the intruder. Yellow jackets, wasps and hornets, on the other hand can (and usually do) sting multiple times. Those stings felt more like getting hit with a baseball bat to me. I give them very wide latitude.
dts

 

[PaleIO]

My Dad used to keep bees. Never wore any protective equipment. On the few occasions I helped him, I was in more PPE than workers in a nuclear reactor - helmet, net, suit with wrists and cuffs taped, etc. Seems that every time at least one bee would find her way in and sting me. While my Dad said that the stings didn’t hurt him, I felt like I had been shot with a pellet gun. Dad never quite understood that. BTW, honey bees can only sting once. It rips out their abdomen and they die. When they sting they release a pheromone that directs the other hive members to the intruder. Yellow jackets, wasps and hornets, on the other hand can (and usually do) sting multiple times. Those stings felt more like getting hit with a baseball bat to me. I give them very wide latitude.
dts

I have learned that a big reason for the smoke a keeper uses is to cover up that pheromone. If they get stung they cover the smell with smoke so the others aren't alerted. The bees will also retreat into the hive and gorge on honey when they smell it. This makes them slow and less likely to attack. I can't imagine how the old timers did it without gear they usually kept wild swarms they captured. The wild bees have a very grumpy demeanor compared to today's more docile cousins. If a hive gets defensive today a queen can be removed and requeened easily with a mail order replacement.

 

[dts52]

Thank goodness we have animals like skunks that like nothing better than devouring underground yellow jacket nests. I guess their coats must protect them somewhat from the multiple stings.
You’re right about the smoker. Dad always smoked the hive before opening it. He tried to teach me a lot about many things but for the most part I was too stubborn, too stupid, and too immature to listen. I guess that’s life.
Cheers,
dts