Saving a bee which has stung someone

[Anthony Appleyard]

This Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fcegTn9kqw at time 3:36 :: shows a beekeeper who had just been stung on his hand by a bee, letting the bee crawl round in circles trying (in vain) to extract its sting intact. If the beekeeper carried a fine-pointed pair of tweezers/forceps, would he be able to take hold of the stinger and pull it out of him with the bee with its sting attached intact?

 

[B+.]

This Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fcegTn9kqw at time 3:36 :: shows a beekeeper who had just been stung on his hand by a bee, letting the bee crawl round in circles trying (in vain) to extract its sting intact. If the beekeeper carried a fine-pointed pair of tweezers/forceps, would he be able to take hold of the stinger and pull it out of him with the bee with its sting attached intact?

That's a good point. Let's all add a pair of tweezers to our field-kit, shall we? (in case there is any doubt, I don't think this will happen)

 

[Anduril]

Short answer 'no'.

 

[Kenson]

On where bees do survive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-C77ujnLZo

I've seen a few videos where they "get away" or survive, but it's always experienced beeks demonstrating it. Clearly it can be done, if you are good

Interestingly, when they do manage it, there seems to be no "follow up" from other bees, so I reckon if you can get good at it, it's probably a good ides

K

 

[Beefriendly]

This Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fcegTn9kqw at time 3:36 :: shows a beekeeper who had just been stung on his hand by a bee, letting the bee crawl round in circles trying (in vain) to extract its sting intact. If the beekeeper carried a fine-pointed pair of tweezers/forceps, would he be able to take hold of the stinger and pull it out of him with the bee with its sting attached intact?

Answer is yes. Chris Packham demonstrated this on the BBC hive alive programmes programmes? where Adam Hart allowed himself to be stung by a bee but they removed the barb with forceps before the bee pulled her abdomen out.
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/cy65mj/hive-alive--s1-e2-hive-alive/

But in nature without anyone with forceps available to deal with the sting immediately the answer is probably a big no

 

[Millet]

I have seen a video clip somewhere of a fellow scraping a sting out with his thumb nail that was still in the bees abdomen and it seemed to fly of ok..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Think I must have stepped into the matrix today

 

[Anduril]

Think I must have stepped into the matrix today

You see 1 success on the BBC and it becomes gospel. Roll on the beekeeping season to nudge us out of the twilight zone.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Think I must have stepped into the matrix today

Anthony’s questions are challenging aren’t they?

 

[For want of a better word]

Think I must have stepped into the matrix today

We have three monhts of Sundays of this!

Yeghes da

 

[madasafish]

I was stung on the back of the hand last year when demoing bees to portential new beekepers. Gloveless.

Bee manged to extricate itself - probably because skin on back of hand is soft..

The newbies were fascinated..

(I had it happen once before when going sleeveless and stung on arm..)

Most times I just get stung and bee dies...

 

[pargyle]

Anthony’s questions are challenging aren’t they?

Well that's a new word for it ... I'll just go off for a quick challenge, I feel the need building.

 

[B+.]

Think I must have stepped into the matrix today

It happens whenever beekeepers are confined for any length of time. I hoped that the start of Spring would bring some interesting discussion but now we have Covid-confinement, it feels like the start of winter all over again!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

We have three monhts of Sundays of this!

Yeghes da

I will be mostly spending time with my bees, unfortunately, due to the fact I'm already a home worker, the Home Office will expect me to dip in and help occasionally

 

[Popparand]

I have seen a video clip somewhere of a fellow scraping a sting out with his thumb nail that was still in the bees abdomen and it seemed to fly of ok..

Yes, I hope they anaesthetised the bee first, otherwise it would be very painful for the poor little thing.

 

[thorn]

Just get it a good lawyer.

 

[Millet]

Anthony’s questions are challenging aren’t they?

Dear Lord Yes..

 

[Millet]

Just get it a good lawyer.