Bumble Bees

[dumber]

I have always thought that bees (honey and bumble bees) didnt sting you unless they were really provoked cos when they sting it pulls out their tummy and kills them. Last week I read/heard somewhere that bumble bees can sting you and not die and that just honey bees die after stinging. Is this true?

Reason I ask is I am forever picking up bumble bees, sometimes when they are in the house so the cats dont get them and sometimes at the beginning and end of summer when they are a bit slow and lazy. I have never been stung by one and they don't seem to mind being picked up and put somewhere safe. But now Im a bit worried in case one takes a disliking to me and gives me a big sting lol

[dustypuss]

I dont know if bumblebees sting or not but i can assure you that they bite , ( from experience ) :-(

[aka pixi]

Hi dusty and eeeeeeeekkk I never knew that. Bet I wear gloves next time I pick one up lol and they are sooo sweet looking too and love a little stroke lol

erm I was dumber when I put up the post (Just to avoid confusion lol)

[Ice.Maiden]

A bumble bee can sting you - and as far as I know it'll then dies - possibly why you can pick them up without them hurting you, as obviously they do it as a last resort - e.g. if threatened.

[dustypuss]

try Google bumblebee

i just did found a very interesting site

some thing like

www.bumblebee.org/faq.htm

[Ice.Maiden]

This is a bit unpleasant to look at, but shows the stinger of a queen, or female worker bee. Honey bees sting as well.
http://www.bumblebee.org/bodySting.htm

[dustypuss]

try
http://www.bumblebee.org/bodysting.htm

[dustypuss]

sorry blond moment dident look at ice.maiden,s answer befor answering :-(

[Clanad]

The Bumble bee (Bombus terrestris ) doesn't die after stinging because the "stinger" is constructed quite differently than that of the common honey bee. As a matter of fact, unless the victim of a bee sting is a mammal or other skinned creature (reptiles comes to mind), the bee is likely not to die after stinging. This is especially true when the bee is protecting its hive from other insects. The barbed stinger can inject venom into the intruder and be withdrawn without fatal damage to the protecting bee. Having been a bee-keeper for a number of years here in the western U.S., I've noted that neither species can bite. The mouth parts are designed for one purpose; that of acquiring nectar. They do have quite a long "tongue" for just that purpose.
The bees feet do have small barbs that could feel, to the barehand, like an attempt at biting, I suppose...

There are about 5 species of bee that do not sting, mainly in Australia and South America. We have one variety of bee here in the U.S. that's grown to aid in crop production that being the Leaf Cutter Bee. This bee does sting, but the venom is so mild it's hardly noticeable.

[aka pixi]

thanks again dusty and ice maiden for the links, all I can say is OUCH lol

thanks for that clanad :D I've seen the leaf cutter bees on one of the documentary channels.

I've decided that if I pick anymore up I will be really careful. Im not a threat to them at all but I suppose we all have our off days lol