First Sting of 2012

BlueBee · March 24, 2012, 04:30:48 PM

I got my first sting of 2012 yesterday. Ouch! My foam-tastic hives have so many bees in them that they are getting aggressive like late summer hives. I went in to do some drone culling and one of the gals got me right through my Rubber gloves. That was a shock because I've never gotten stung through those gloves before. I think she was a Republican :shock:

I pulled out my drone combs and did find a number of varroa climbing about the combs. Here's a photo of one. Didn't get the best macro shot, sorry.

How do y'all react to your first new sting of the season? Do you swell up more? Is it more painful?

tefer2 · March 24, 2012, 07:09:50 PM

I got my first couple when all this warm weather started two weeks ago. Went to show my wife, and could not find the place they stung me. If I get it on the hands, really no reaction. Around the eyes or mouth, way different story.

The Bix · March 24, 2012, 08:42:39 PM

Three so far, one behind the ear, one on the wrist and one on the bicep. Wrist and ear swelled up a little, but not a big deal at all...hardly noticed the one on the bicep.

AllenF · March 24, 2012, 09:05:02 PM

Good shot of that mite there.

Kathyp · March 25, 2012, 01:01:42 AM

yes, great pictures. bravo the republican bee :evil:

BlueBee · March 25, 2012, 02:04:17 AM

:lau:

Joe D · March 25, 2012, 11:22:34 AM

Must be nice to have those republican bees, mine must be democrates. Was out in yard without suit got 2 stings on right eyelid and 1 to lip. Then a few days later was out there with my full suit,long gloves and knee high booths got stung 3 times though the suit. But I still love beek.

Joe

kingfisherfd2 · March 25, 2012, 11:36:18 AM

Got my first one about a month ago on my stomach. The bee was on my shirt and I bent over and pinched her between my leg and belly. Zap. Like a little blister that itched some.
The day after I was in the hive checking how the 10 foundation frames I added in were doing. scraped off some wild comb. I had one land on my shirt sleeve and sting the material. 10 minutes later it brushed my arm and stung me. again a little blister.

2 days later. One on my wrist, it didn't feel like she got me bad, but my hand swelled up like a latex glove blown up with air. A massive dose of Benedryl took care of that.
They seem to have calmed down some now that a honey super has been added.

splitrock · March 25, 2012, 12:17:52 PM

My first two for the year were the result of them getting caught up in my hair last month...... My hair isn't that long, I just figured the bees response time in flight was a little slow due to the low temps we had.

CVBees · March 25, 2012, 12:30:44 PM

I got my first 2 of the year checking on a cutout I did, went in suitless opened up a hive that had been ignored for years and they got my lower eyelid. 2nd was right forearm. both swelled up way more than I thought they would.

At the PennAPIC spring workshop yesterday someone mentioned the possibility that insecticide might be passed on through the bee to a sting, causing the reaction. Didn't sound plausible but I will see once I am stung by my new package next month. 8)

Beeboy01 · March 26, 2012, 08:59:38 PM

I've already lost count but my two best stings so far this year was a good hit on my right ear lobe, it swelled up and looked like a fried egg hanging off the side of my head and the other was through my jeans as I was leaning over, any more said and I'll probably get a warning notice from a moderator. :-D

sterling · March 27, 2012, 08:42:58 PM

Are bee stings covered under Obama Care? :-D :-D That little red spot could be serious. :lol: :lol:
I get stung alot on my hands but don't complain cause it helps the arthritis in my joints.

Rex Smith · March 27, 2012, 09:12:15 PM

Great pics!

I've had my first 3 stings last week - 2 when I was mowing the lawn, and the mower vibrated the pallet that the hives are on. The ladies decided I needed a lesson. 1 hit to the my left cheek, and one about 1cm below my right eye.

No swelling at all.

My 3rd was on the back of my hand 2 days later. That one swelled up a bit for a few days.

BlueBee · March 27, 2012, 10:09:48 PM

Quote from: sterling on March 27, 2012, 08:42:58 PM
Are bee stings covered under Obama Care? :-D :-D That little red spot could be serious. :lol: :lol:

LOL. I was wondering if I could apply for disability. That finger sting made it a bit of a challenge to type on the keyboard you know :-D

It is kind of funny how a sting in one spot will swell up but in a different spot no effect. I wonder if there are any doctors or nurses on here that can explain how venom migrates in tissues and how it is eventually de-activated?

I get the most swelling if I get stung in a muscle. I was thinking that might be because there is more blood flow in the muscles and maybe that spreads the venom more; but I don't know :?

Rex Smith · March 28, 2012, 12:53:19 AM

Bluebee,

I don't know if some body parts/area have a higher propensity to swell or not... I'm just happy that my face didn't swell up at all. After that - I was VERY surprised when my hand swelled up after it was stung.

Shane ear · March 28, 2012, 11:38:31 AM

Quote from: BlueBee on March 24, 2012, 04:30:48 PM
I got my first sting of 2012 yesterday. Ouch! My foam-tastic hives have so many bees in them that they are getting aggressive like late summer hives. I went in to do some drone culling and one of the gals got me right through my Rubber gloves. That was a shock because I've never gotten stung through those gloves before. I think she was a Republican :shock:

I caught the first swarm of the year the other night...my first night capture, got stung 5 times, but I always wear a veil so stings were on my hands, no problems...I know this swarm was Republican, or they would have just stayed in their hive waiting on their beek to feed them and starved to death. :lol:

D Semple · March 28, 2012, 12:35:32 PM

Quote from: Shane ear on March 28, 2012, 11:38:31 AM
I caught the first swarm of the year the other night...my first night capture, got stung 5 times, but I always wear a veil so stings were on my hands, no problems...I know this swarm was Republican, or they would have just stayed in their hive waiting on their beek to feed them and starved to death. :lol:

:jawdrop: :rant: :lau: :lau:

sterling · March 28, 2012, 01:03:22 PM

Quote from: Shane ear on March 28, 2012, 11:38:31 AM
Quote from: BlueBee on March 24, 2012, 04:30:48 PM
I got my first sting of 2012 yesterday. Ouch! My foam-tastic hives have so many bees in them that they are getting aggressive like late summer hives. I went in to do some drone culling and one of the gals got me right through my Rubber gloves. That was a shock because I've never gotten stung through those gloves before. I think she was a Republican :shock:

I caught the first swarm of the year the other night...my first night capture, got stung 5 times, but I always wear a veil so stings were on my hands, no problems...I know this swarm was Republican, or they would have just stayed in their hive waiting on their beek to feed them and starved to death. :lol:

I think you got that bassakwards. It is the dems that want the free stuff. The Republican swarm was going to start a new business is why they left the origanal hive [capitalism]. They will do the work and make alot of honey and the democratic beekeepers Will take it away from um and give it all away [democratic socialism]. History is on my side on this. :shock:

Shane ear · March 28, 2012, 02:35:40 PM

Quote from: sterling on March 28, 2012, 01:03:22 PM

I think you got that bassakwards. :shock:

Read again...

sterling · March 28, 2012, 08:39:06 PM

Quote from: Shane ear on March 28, 2012, 02:35:40 PM
Quote from: sterling on March 28, 2012, 01:03:22 PM

I think you got that bassakwards. :shock:

Read again...

Sorry I did misread.