When is a bee, not a bee?

[Dawsie]

I’ve been carrying out structural surveys on some railway retaining walls recently using a very slow 20mtr reach cherry picker, the autumn sun is in my back and all is well, then I noticed a few bees hanging about, (I’ve been doing this job for the last 22 years and know the difference between bees, hornets and wasps) I had a good long look at them and decided they were harmless masonry bees.
Then it started, felt a sting on back of my neck and another on my head, (I’m wearing a safety helmet but had the ventilation holes open, the bloody thing got inside and had me), then to my horror I see them coming out of a crack in the wall, not a swarm but dozens of them, anyone who has operated a cherry picker at 20mts will know that it’s very slow going, by the time I had reach the deck (accompanied by the little darlings) I was all but screaming from the stings, literally jumped out of the cradle to get away from the area, knowing I had anti histamine in the truck, made my way back to the vehicle which was at least 100mts away, had to cross through some nettles and thought I had felt a stinging nettle on my leg, looked down and it was the same bloody things chasing me, ended up running to the truck, fumbled getting my keys out and they had me again, jumped in the truck feeling safe, I’m really in pain now, then I realised a few of them had got in when I got in, my god, talk about utter panic.

 

[Ade8mm]

Nasty. Are you all right now?

 

[Dawsie]

Yeah, I’m fine now, itching & scratching like mad though

 

[dartmoordog]

Horrible little bastards! Good to hear you are OK.

Many moons, in fact decades, ago, I was one of three of us with two Collies bringing sheep in from the open Moor. When we got to the edge of the open Moorland we stuck the sheep in a field, and made our way back down to the village. The first dog went through a narrow gap between two trees and disturbed a Wasps nest, the second dog, Scooby, was targeted as the culprit and launched upon. I managed to grab him and get him and myself to the river, the poor sod was stung to buggery, I had just a few. We took him straight to a vet, pumped him with anti histamines, and got him back to the farmhouse just limp and lifeless. I spent the whole evening picking Wasps out of the poor lads coat with long nosed pliers, he was back to his old self a day or two later, licking his balls, sniffing bitches and rubbing his arse along the floor.

 

[gixer1]

Not a nice experience…I was putting out poults a few years ago with a group of people (two of the b’stards are on here )

I knelt down over a rabbit hole while emptying the crate and my untucked t-shirt draped over the hole. Unbeknown to me there was a wasp bike in the hole and they all came out to protect the bike, into my t-shirt - by the time I got the first sting there must’ve been several in there as I went running off through the woods undressing as I went with all the other guys laughing hysterically! came out with 9 stings total which wasn’t too bad considering the amount of them I saw buzzing around me!

Not a nice experience

 

[bazil]

Try a piece of aloe vera plant ,just snap off a bit and apply , I was sting by a European wasp when I was up in a cherry picker and yours right they descend so slow ,I ended up I hospital for 4 hours , so now we alwa have an aloe plant in the house ,but for work I take the aloe gel , I hope this helps Baz

 

[johndeere]

Funny how such a small insect can make a full-grown man develop moves that are usually only reserved for family weddings on the dance floor.
and as already mentioned whoever is in attendance usually has great difficulty stopping themselves from wetting their underwear.
just like at the wedding

 

[Friendly Boar]

Antihistamine or something hot on the sting sight immediately mitigates the venom. Just don’t put something too hot or like a mate you’ll get 3rd’burbs instead
Hope you’re feeling better as it’s a nightmare situation to be in.

 

[kamyonsofor]

Hope your ok but think about changing your name to Cassius Clay .

 

[opticron1]

When I was much younger and stupid(er)..... we used to play a game where you ran up to a known wasp nest and beat it briskly with a branch/twig/stick (delete where applicable)...... Then when the occupants of said nest were suitably roused, you had to run away - hoping that you were faster than the others in your gang! Ah, the stupidity of youth and the belief you were invincible
Didn't stop me looking after some bees in later years and only got stung once or twice by them, bees good.....wasps not so!

 

[Norfolk Horn]

Can't believe you didn't stop and take a few photos so these bees could be identified correctly!!!

 

[Siggy]

Ouch, hope you are okay…so situations i have encountered is a wasp nest in the ground surrounded by Ivy bees, wasp nest next to masonry bees and hornets next door to wasps. Masonry bees are usually okay but bumble bees are the worse once you start knocking the nest about, mainly because they crawl up your trousers stinging as they go. ( I generally re-home bumble bees and honey bees)

 

[User00036]

Masonry bees are aggressive little sods, bit like my ex. Bee's & women, they give you a bit of honey, sting you to hell & make off.