In 1987, Justin Schmidt, a biologist at the Southwestern Biological Institute, found himself up a tree in Costa Rica. Hanging on a branch that extended over a cliff, he was trying to get closer to a black wasp nest hanging in the limbs of the tree to collect a few specimens for research.
He was being careful, and had come geared up with a bee vail to prevent the flying insects from stinging his face. These wasps were much more determined than he was prepared for. They hovered as close as they could, and then, instead of stinging, squirted venom directly into his eyes.
The burning sensation and the pain were immediate. Unable to see, Justin screamed for help as he slid down the tree with two legs wrapped around the trunk, and a bag of wasps hanging from one of his hands.
“That was an adventure,” he laughs now.
Getting stung by insects is an occupational hazard for the author of The Sting of the Wild. He’s experienced everything, from the pain of the paper wasp, to the blinding electric shock of the tarantula hawk wasp.
All of this has taught him how much a sting can hurt, but most importantly, how to avoid them. Should you run into these insects in the wild, Schmidt’s lessons can come in handy, starting with never disturbing a wasp nest.
Bees, wasps, and hornets, oh my!
Ninety to 100 people die yearly from allergic reactions resulting from bee, hornet, and wasp stings. This is also the most common potentially fatal animal encounter in the outdoors.
Not all stinging insects are created equal. Hornets are a type of wasp that tends to be more aggressive than bees and produce more painful stings. To make matters worse, wasps don’t lose their stingers after they jab you, so they can do so repeatedly. Bees however, are one and done.
But no matter if it’s once or multiple times, what happens in your body when one of these insects attacks you is pretty similar. Through the sting, bees or wasps envenomate you by injecting specific toxins and enzymes.
Your body registers the intrusion almost right away. White blood cells race to the rescue and send histamines to the injection site, causing swelling. Your immune system begins creating antibodies to combat the foreign substance, which continues to spread and breaking down cell walls in its path.
This is when those who experience highly allergic responses to bee or wasp stings should resort to an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen) and immediate medical attention to prevent anaphylaxis. The rest will only feel throbbing pain, irritation, swelling, and itching.
The amount of venom an insect injects determines how painful a sting is, and it varies depending on the species. But whether you run into a bee or a wasp, you’re probably better off with no sting at all.
How to avoid a sting
The easiest and most effective way of avoiding stings is keeping your distance from nests, colonies, and swarms. If you happen to stumble upon one, walk swiftly and calmly in the opposite direction. This will prevent you from further riling up the insects. You should also make your exit in a straight line, as running in zig-zag will just keep you in the danger zone for longer, Schmidt says.
If a swarm attacks you, run as fast as you can away from it, and preferably toward people who may be able to help. By removing yourself from the area, you may be able to prove to the insects that you’re not a threat and they’re likely to leave you alone.
However, if you are dealing with one or two stinging insects buzzing around your head, don’t freak out. Chances are, the bee, wasp, or hornet is just investigating to assess the threat. If you swat at it or violently jerk from side to side, you may seem threatening, and cause the insect to sting.
Hiding in plain sight is also a good idea. For this, Schmidt recommends you keep still and hold your breath.
“Breath is what tells them you’re there,” he says.
Because most insects get cues from smells in the air, when you hold your breath for 10, 30, or even 50 seconds, they will no longer detect your presence. This will very likely result in bees and wasps leaving you in peace.
When it comes to your clothes, choose light colors, and avoid purples, violets, and blues, as bees are attracted to them. Floral prints are also ok, since fabrics don’t have those ultraviolet colors in real flowers bees love so much.
Another myth is that perfumes or scented sunscreens can entice bees, wasps, and hornets. This is not true. Lemon may be an exception, though. The citrus smell resembles a bee pheromone, which might make you attractive to these insects if you wear it hiking.
What to do if you get stung
If they haven’t already, chances are a bee or wasp will sting you at some point in your life. When they do, don’t panic.
Move away from the area where it happened in case there are more insects nearby. If the culprit is a bee, remove the stinger by scraping your fingernail over the sting to dislodge it. Studies show that leaving the stinger in for just eight seconds can increase swelling by 30 percent, so act quickly.
If you experience abnormal swelling or shortness of breath, you may be having an acute allergic reaction. In that case, the most important priority is to seek medical attention immediately and as fast as you can.
On the other hand, if everything looks normal, then your next step will be to focus on recovery. First, wash the sting with soap and water to avoid infection. If it itches, use a topical steroid or oral antihistamine. Follow up by applying a cold compress on the affected area to reduce swelling and pain.
If you don’t have access to any medication, Schmidt recommends making a paste with a small amount of table salt and water (or another liquid), to put directly on the sting site to relieve pain.
“We don’t know why, but it does seem to work,” Schmidt suggests. You should also avoid applying heat, ammonia, and vinegar to the site, he adds, as they are useless at best, and can make pain more acute at worst.
Finally, if you have a history of severe allergic reactions, remember to always carry auto-injectable epinephrine with you, whether you’re in an urban area or the middle of the backcountry. If a bee or wasp stings you and you have to inject yourself, make sure to visit a nearby emergency room right away.
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