Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: DonMcJr on April 15, 2014, 02:10:19 am

Title: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: DonMcJr on April 15, 2014, 02:10:19 am
Been a beekeeper for 4 years now and I got my 1st sting today installing my 2 packages in 46 F weather... Stuck me through my jeans on my calf... ddefinitely not allergic this is all it did...Red spot...

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.michiganoutdoorsman.com%2FMOPhoto%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F10005%2F20140415_005426.jpg&hash=99f3826e28679cddd487771daed21e0932a9d6e2)
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: Perry on April 15, 2014, 07:21:46 am
Well done. Not bad for a first time. You may have got lucky in that going through your jeans she didn't release a full load of venom.
Now that you've got that out of the way....... :laugh:
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: blueblood on April 15, 2014, 08:52:48 am
Congrats! They must have been pissy about being cooped up.  A full sting will give me a quarter size red spot within an hour.  By evening, I will have a typical site reaction of about 3" long by 1-1/2" wide, it itches and then starts to diminish by 48 hours.  If I get hit on the joints of my wrist/hands, I will have swelling where I can't see my knucks.
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: Intheswamp on April 15, 2014, 10:15:06 am
I had just made the decision that I would be gettings and was being shown a small colony by the man that would become my mentor.  He was intently gazing over the frames and I swear wasn't looking my way (I was to the side of him).  Well, one little lady decided she needed to make a point with me and stabbed me on the lower, tender part of my upper left arm.  Naturally I resisted the urged to jump out of my socks and tried to stealthily knock the bee off (and I really think I did a good job of being calm about it ;) ).  My mentor never looked my way but with what I *know* was a slight grin said "Congratulations!!!  You've just been initiated!"

So, with much sincerity ;D... "Congratulations!!!  You've just been initiated!"

Ed

PS - Looks like a good (slight) reaction. 
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 15, 2014, 10:51:16 am
   When I rotated boxes and did my spring cleaning I didn't wear any protection.. Figured I needed a couple good stings...   naturally they didnt cooperate.  If this keeps up I am going to have to "apply" a bee or three.
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: Intheswamp on April 15, 2014, 11:28:36 am
Lazy, it's kind crazy ain't it?...we do things to keep from getting stung and then we kinda start jonesin' for a sting.  Go figure, eh?  Can a person get addicted to honey bee venom?   ???

Ed
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: Jen on April 15, 2014, 12:32:14 pm
Yes! as a matter of fact! it's the same as getting addicted to the pain of tattoos, except you don't have to worry about getting up off of the tat table and saying "OMG! I hate this tattoo!" at least the bee sting will Go Away  ;) 8)
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: pistolpete on April 16, 2014, 02:42:29 am
4 years with no stings?  What do you wear to you bee yard -  a suit of armour?   My bees are extremely well behaved and I still average about 15 or 20 stings per year.   I find the stings a great treatment for joint pain, so I go with no protection at all.
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: tbonekel on April 16, 2014, 07:35:11 am
Yep, I pretty much get a sting per week. But I haven't been stung in a while. I think something is wrong with my bees.
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: lazy shooter on April 16, 2014, 07:52:35 am
Since the stinging, warrior bees are women, they are totally unpredictable.  I go for weeks at a time without a sting, and then they seem to make up for lost time. 
At a minimum, I wear a veil.  My bees probably sting me 20 times or so a year.  I have arthritis, and the bee stings do not alleviate it in the least. 

In my opinion, jeans do lessen the severity of the sting.  like you, I show almost no swelling from stings.  Anyway, it's good that you finally got the first sting by you.
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: DonMcJr on April 16, 2014, 11:40:23 am
4 years with no stings?  What do you wear to you bee yard -  a suit of armour?   My bees are extremely well behaved and I still average about 15 or 20 stings per year.   I find the stings a great treatment for joint pain, so I go with no protection at all.

The 1st year I wore a Tyvek Painters white suit...real thin and my jacket with a zippered veil and green rubber gloves. After the 1st year I stopped wearing the tyvek suit. They never sting me!

I really think it was they 40 F temp and shaking them out of their cluster pissed them off. This may be the start of my 4th year...I lost count...lol

Ok I can't count at all lol! I just looked it up this is the start of my 3rd year...so 1st sting in 2 years...
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: Slowmodem on April 16, 2014, 06:28:08 pm
The only time I've got stung since I started using my ventilated suit was after I walked 30 yards away and took my veil off.  I'm hoping my luck continues.   8)
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 03, 2014, 08:39:03 pm
Got my first sting of the season today...   right inside my little finger... naturally I was holding a frame...

   I held my finger out to the wife.. standing there with a full suit and gloves..


   "Take the hive tool and scrape that stinger out."
   "What stinger?"
   "The one on my finger that the bee buzzing about trying to get away is going to leave behind."
   "You didn't get stung."
   "You see that bee?"
   "Yes."
   "She stung me, scrape the stinger out."
   "YOU scrape the stinger out, I can't see it......"
   "Sigh...."
   "Dont huff at me. Your the idiot not wearing a bee suit."

   Stinger stayed in till I put the frame back in....

   My normal inspection attire..   Pretty grubby today, put up fence all day...

    (https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs8.postimg.cc%2F68xp79apd%2FDSCF0380.jpg&hash=73e27859375571cbafba8ba673f3177fe5d6abe6) (http://postimg.cc/image/68xp79apd/)


   odd.. why did it turn the pic sideways?  It was taken right side up on the camera and shows right side up on my computer..   I suppose I could turn it sideways so it shows up right....


Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: barry42001 on May 03, 2014, 08:49:29 pm
Usually get stung 8 to 10 times per year. Nothing this year yet.

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Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 03, 2014, 09:22:40 pm
No itching or swelling.. the spot is a bit sore, like its bruised..  so pretty happy with the reaction part of it. Heres to hoping Any sting I ever get reacts in a similar manner!
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: Bamabww on May 03, 2014, 10:45:35 pm
Been a beekeeper for 4 years now

Don, we started beekeeping about the same time but I'm way ahead of you on the stings, 99% of which have been my fault I'll admit. Congrats on your first sting, now the pressure of keeping the  streak going is off and you can rest better.   ;D
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: Jen on May 04, 2014, 12:00:08 am
Scott- ""Got my first sting of the season today... right inside my little finger... naturally I was holding a frame... I held my finger out to the wife... standing there with a full suit and gloves... "Take the hive tool and scrape that stinger out."

   Hu!?! Really??? No body takes my stingers out... pft whatever



 ;)
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 04, 2014, 12:31:41 am
well you know Jen.. Just in case there was a reaction...  I figured if I got it out fast I might not die.. SHE was thinking  PUMP little stinger PUMP!!!
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: Jen on May 04, 2014, 12:42:33 am
MHmm...(one eyebrow up sly look) gotta watch us felines after 50... I would completely understand O:-)
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: litefoot on May 05, 2014, 11:30:13 pm
Don,
If you want to get stung more often, please send me an e-mail. I've earned my doctorate on the subject in just three short years.
Title: Re: Finally got my 1st Sting!
Post by: riverbee on May 06, 2014, 12:49:52 am
litefoot, you are on a roll tonight with the humor.....too funny!!!!  loved the sock story, and love the doctorate in stings....... :D