As the warm weather approaches and spring arrives, we are all looking forward to the flowers and bees that come with it. However, there is a lot of misinformation about bees that can create some confusion.
One question we often get is whether or not bees will chase you. The simple answer to this question is no, they do not chase you for no reason! Bees are not aggressive creatures and they are not trying to sting humans.
That being said, bees can become defensive if they feel like their hive or territory is being threatened by another animal or human. Let’s explore that below!
Can you outrun a bee?
The short answer is yes, you can outrun a bee. In fact, you’re actually faster than a bee. Although bees are speedy little bugs and can fly at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (which is fast for something so small), they aren’t nearly as fast as a person running on foot.
And even though it might not look like it when you see them buzzing around your head when you walk outside, bees are actually pretty slow flyers compared to other insects that also use their wings for flight. For example: dragonflies have been clocked at speeds up to 56 miles per hour!
So if you feel threatened by a bee flying near your face or into your hair while walking or running outside—don’t panic! Outrunning one will be easy because they’re not exactly speed demons in the air.
Will bees randomly attack me?
In short, no. Bees will not randomly attack you. You can’t blame a bee for stinging you! If a bee stings you, it’s because that was its only option at the time. If someone is getting stung by bees and they’re not in any danger of being swarmed by them or anything like that, then it’s likely that the person is doing something to attract the bees (like wearing clothing with blue colors).
Some species of bees have a natural attraction to certain colors and fragrances—specifically blue, sweat (human), flowers/nectar, and honeydew droplets/honey itself—so if those things are present in your environment and on your body/clothing/hair (for example), they may be more likely to sting you than if those things aren’t present.
Why are bees attracted to me?
Bees are attracted to the color yellow. Bees are also attracted to the scent of flowers, and sweat.
- The color yellow: Bees are attracted to this color because they think it means nectar is nearby.
- The scent of flowers: They have receptors in their antennae that detect when flowers are ready to pollinate and then search them out using those receptors. In a similar way, bees can also find other food sources like tree sap or sweet fruits by detecting their scents with their antennae or feet (if they land on something good).
Can bees be aggressive?
Of all, “don’t swat a fly with your bare hand” is common knowledge, but what about bees? Is death possible from a bee sting?
If you ask the beekeepers, they’ll tell you no. Bees are not hostile or hazardous to people or animals. If a bee stings you, they strive to defend themselves or their colony from being disrupted. If you have an allergy, though, that’s a whole other ballgame!
Bees seldom sting unless they perceive an imminent danger. Unless there is a good cause, as when there are no flowers around and they need food for their larvae, they are peaceful animals who seldom annoy humans (baby bees). However, if it determines it needs to eat…
Can you survive a chasing swarm?
So, can you withstand a swarm of bees? You will likely have a more severe response if you are allergic to bee stings and are stung by more than 20 bees. It is probable that if you are allergic to tick bites and are bitten by more than 50 ticks at once, your reaction will be just as severe.
Take the case of the hiker who receives 50 tick bites and the child who gets 20 bee stings while playing in the backyard. Because of his extreme reaction to both ticks and bees, he may require medical treatment.
The best way to deal with chasing bees
The wisest course of action to take when confronted with a swarm of bees is to flee. If you’re being attacked and can’t get away, hiding in a vehicle or building is your best bet. You should change into protective clothing, such as gloves or long-sleeved shirts, once you reach a safe location, such as your vehicle or home.
Get checked out ASAP! It’s painful when a bee stings you. In most cases, the doctor will prescribe antihistamines to help the discomfort go away as soon as possible. If you’ve tried antihistamines at home for three days and they haven’t helped, you should see your doctor to have them test for internal allergic responses. Other than the area directly around the sting, this might cause harm to the heart, kidneys, and liver (that is, anaphylactic shock).
A chasing bee swarm may be removed by calling a professional bee service
Do not attempt to relocate a bee swarm on your own. While you may have good intentions, bees are not like other insects and should not be handled in the same way. They won’t cooperate if you try to pick them up and stuff them in your pocket. Even if you successfully capture the bees and relocate them, they will return to their original location within a day or two.
To relocate a swarm of bees, you may clip a queen onto each end of the honeycomb and pull it behind your vehicle. When the queen clip snags on anything along the route (like a tree limb), it will come off, and all the worker bees that had been following her will be compelled to take off again.
Therefore, only the drones remained in the original site, as they are too heavy to fly without the assistance of the workers, while the female workers returned with the pollen to ensure the colony’s continued health.
Conclusion
If you are not allergic to bees, then there is no reason to fear them. You can safely enjoy the bees in your garden and not worry about getting stung. But if you do get stung, know that it’s nothing to be concerned about either—just apply some ice on the area of the sting and let it go away on its own. As long as you respect bees and keep them happy around your home or garden, they will respect you back!
