"active in cooler weather, with some species presenting diapause. Unlike other eusocial bees, they do not sting, but will defend by biting if their nest is disturbed. In addition, a few (in the genus ""Oxytrigona"") have mandibular secretions, including formic acid, that cause painful blisters. Despite their lack of a sting, stingless bees, being eusocial, may have very large colonies made formidable by the number of defenders. Stingless bees usually nest in hollow trunks, tree branches, underground cavities, termite nests or rock crevices, but they have also been encountered in wall cavities, old rubbish bins, water meters, and storage drums."
"Bee sting A bee sting is a sting from a bee (honey bee, bumblebee, sweat bee, etc.). The stings of most of these species can be quite painful, and are therefore keenly avoided by many people. Bee stings differ from insect bites, and the venom or toxin of stinging insects is quite different. Therefore, the body's reaction to a bee sting may differ significantly from one species to another. In particular, bee stings are acidic, whereas wasp stings are alkaline, so the body's reaction to a bee sting may be very different than to that of a wasp sting. The"
"small relief. Bee venom is acidic, and these interventions are often recommended to neutralize the venom; however, neutralizing a sting is unlikely to be effective as the venom is injected under the skin and deep into the tissues, where a topically applied alkali is unable to reach, so neutralization is unlikely to occur. In any case, the amount of venom injected is typically very small (between 5 and 50 micrograms of fluid) and placing large amounts of alkali near the sting site is unlikely to produce a perfectly neutral pH to stop the pain. Many people do claim benefit from"
"covered by vesicles and crusted lesions. Stinging insects produce a painful swelling of the skin, the severity of the lesion varying according to the location of the sting, the identity of the insect and the sensitivity of the subject. Many species of bees and wasps have two poison glands, one gland secreting a toxin in which formic acid is one recognized constituent, and the other secreting an alkaline neurotoxin; acting independently, each toxin is rather mild, but when they combine through the sting, the combination has strong irritating properties. In a small number of cases the second occasion of a"
"cold compress. A topical anesthetic containing benzocaine will kill pain quickly and menthol is an effective anti-itch treatment. Itching can also be relieved by antihistamine or by a steroid cream. Many traditional remedies have been suggested for bee stings including damp pastes of tobacco, salt, baking soda, papain, toothpaste, clay, garlic, urine, onions, aspirin or even application of copper coins. As with jellyfish stings, ammonia and ammonia-containing liquids, such as window cleaner, are often suggested as a way to immediately cleanse the skin and remove excess venom, and sweat itself (which also contains small amounts of ammonia) may provide some"
"Insect bites and stings Insect bites and stings occur when an insect is agitated and seeks to defend itself through its natural defense mechanisms, or when an insect seeks to feed off the bitten person. Some insects inject formic acid, which can cause an immediate skin reaction often resulting in redness and swelling in the injured area. Stings from fire ants, bees, wasps and hornets are usually painful, and may stimulate a dangerous allergic reaction called anaphylaxis for at-risk patients, and some wasps can also have a powerful bite along with a sting. Bites from mosquitoes and fleas are more"
"categorized into Pain Level 1 generally is five minutes or less. Since many small bees are categorized into a pain level of 1, it should be noted that the most toxic polypeptides in bee venom are melittin, apamin, and MCD peptide. Melittin is the main toxin of bee venom, and it damages red blood cells and white blood cells. Apamin is a neurotoxin that augments polysynaptic reflexes. MCD peptide destroys mast cells. Feeling only slight pain, Schmidt has described the sting of the Anthophorid bee, categorized into Pain Level 1, as ""almost pleasant, a lover just bit your earlobe a"
"A highly allergic person may suffer anaphylactic shock from certain proteins in the venom, which can be life-threatening and requires emergency treatment. People known to be highly allergic may carry around epinephrine (adrenaline) in the form of a self-injectable EpiPen for the treatment of an anaphylactic shock. For patients who experience severe or life-threatening reactions to insect stings, allergy injections composed of increasing concentrations of naturally occurring venom may provide protections against future insect stings. Bee sting A bee sting is a sting from a bee (honey bee, bumblebee, sweat bee, etc.). The stings of most of these species can"
"pain intensity of an insect's sting from 0 to 4. Over 95% of the venom components are water-insoluble piperidine alkaloids. Piperidines include ""trans""-2-methyl-6-n-undecylpiperidines, ""trans""-2-methyl-6-n-tridecylpiperidine, ""trans""-2-methyl-6-(""cis""-4-tridecenyl) piperidines, ""trans""-2-methyl-6-n-pentadecylpiperidine, ""trans""-2-methyl-6-(""cis""-6-pentadecenyl)piperidine and 2,6-dialkylpiperidines (the ants' venom is dominated by the ""trans""- stereoisomers of this specific ingredient). ""trans""-2-Methyl-6-n-undecylpiperidine (solenopsin) has been shown to have cytotoxic, hemolytic, necrotic, insecticidal, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-HIV properties. As well as that, the alkaloid has shown antiangiogenic activity. These components are responsible for the formation of hives, and also for the development of sterile pustules on areas where the ant has stung. Experiments indicate that the median lethal dose"
"live bee or ant is dabbed with oleic acid, it is dragged off for disposal as if it were dead. The oleic acid smell also may indicate danger to living insects, prompting them to avoid others who have succumbed to disease or places where predators lurk. The biosynthesis of oleic acid involves the action of the enzyme stearoyl-CoA 9-desaturase acting on stearoyl-CoA. In effect, stearic acid is dehydrogenated to give the monounsaturated derivative oleic acid. Oleic acid undergoes the reactions of carboxylic acids and alkenes. It is soluble in aqueous base to give soaps called oleates. Iodine adds across the"
"intense burning sensations. The sensations last for many days and the sting itches. If left untreated, the sting may develop into an ulcer. The venom of a closely related species, ""M. pilosula"", is amongst the strongest of the Formicidae and contains active ingredients such as acid and alkaline phosphatases, hyaluronidase, as well as phospholipases A2 and B. In a 2011 Australian ant allergy venom study, the objective of which was to determine what native Australian ants were associated with ant sting anaphylaxis, it was shown that 265 of the 376 participants taking part of the study reacted to the sting"
"concentration thus appeared to be sufficient to cause the toxic effects. However, these results disagree with a study of Vincent et al. After injection of a supralethal dose of radioactive acetylated apamin in mice, enrichment was found in the spinal cord, which is part of the target organ. Some other organs, including kidney and brain, contained only small amounts of the apamin derivative. Symptoms following bee sting may include: Patients poisoned with bee venom can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication, antihistamines and oral prednisolone. Apamin is an element in bee venom. You can come into contact with apamin through bee"
"Angelic acid Angelic acid is a monocarboxylic unsaturated organic acid. It is mostly found in the plants of the family Apiaceae. German pharmacist Ludwig Andreas Buchner isolated angelic acid in 1842 from the roots of garden angelica (""Angelica archangelica"") which gave the acid its name. Angelic acid is a volatile solid with a biting taste and pungent sour odor. It is the ""cis"" isomer of 2-methyl-2-butenoic acid, which easily converts to the ""trans"" isomer, tiglic acid, upon heating or reaction with inorganic acids. The reverse transformation occurs much less readily. The salts and esters of angelic acid are called angelates."
"sting at the same location. Smoking the bees can reduce the pheromone's efficacy. Koschevnikov gland The Koschevnikov gland is a gland of the honeybee located near the sting shaft. The gland produces an alarm pheromone that is released when a bee stings. The pheromone contains more than 40 different compounds, including pentylacetate, butyl acetate, 1-hexanol, n-butanol, 1-octanol, hexylacetate, octylacetate, and 2-nonanol. These components have a low molar mass and evaporate quickly. This collection of compounds is the least specific of all pheromones. The alarm pheromone is released when a honey bee stings another animal to attract other bees to attack,"
"ants do not have similar stingers as bees. Instead, their stings are retractable and not barbed in order to be used again. The sting is located at the end of the abdomen and is completely covered by a sheath, a protective covering. Besides the momentary sting from the bite, ""O. bauri"" contains a mixture of formic acid and protein, which may have a high toxic activity, and is discharged after the ant bite. Within humans, there have been records of immediate burning at the site of the sting but that usually dissipates after an hour. However, there was one case"
"Ant venom Ant venom is any of, or a mixture of, irritants and toxins inflicted by ants. Most ants spray or inject a venom, the main constituent of which is formic acid only in the case of subfamily Formicinae. Of all extant ant species, about 71% are considered to be stinging species, as some subfamilies have evolutionarily lost the ability to sting. Notable examples include a few species of medical importance, such as ""Solenopsis"" (fire ants), ""Pachycondyla"", ""Myrmecia"" (bulldog ants), and ""Paraponera"" (bullet ants). In the case of fire ants, the venom consists mainly of alkaloid (>95%) and protein (<1%)"
"It contains a range of active ingredients and enzymatic activity, which includes phospholipase A2 and B, hyaluronidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase. The venom of the ant also contains several peptides; one being pilosulin 1, which causes cytotoxic effects, pilosulin 2, which has antihypertensive properties and pilosulin 3, which is known to be a major allergen. Other pilosulins include pilosulin 4 and pilosulin 5. The peptides have known molecular weights. The LD (lethal dose) occurs at a lower concentration than for melittin, a peptide found in bee venom. Its LD value is 3.6 mg/kg (injected intravenously in mice). Loss of cell"
"bee or wasp sting causes a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Hornets, some ants, centipedes, and scorpions also sting. A few insects leave their stinger in the wound, but this is overstated. For example, of the 10,000 species of bees worldwide, only the half-dozen species of honeybees (""Apis"") are reported to have a barbed stinger that cannot be withdrawn; of wasps, all are reported to have smooth stingers. A sting, and especially multiple stings, may give rise to severe systemic symptoms which may lead to death; this most frequently occurs with a few social bees and wasps. Among arthropods,"
"results partly related to dosage. Genetic variation in the key bile acid synthesis enzyme, CYP7A1, influenced the effectiveness of UDCA in colorectal adenoma prevention in a large trial. Bile acids may be used in subcutaneous injections to remove unwanted fat (see Mesotherapy). Deoxycholic acid as an injectable has received FDA approval to dissolve submental fat. Phase III trials showed significant responses although many subjects had mild adverse reactions of bruising, swelling, pain, numbness, erythema, and firmness around the treated area. Bile acid Bile acids are steroid acids found predominantly in the bile of mammals and other vertebrates. Different molecular forms"
"composed of hydrocarbons and esters, discourages ""X. virginica"", as well as other bee species, from returning to that same flower. The male bee is unable to sting because a bee or wasp's stinger is simply a modified ovipositor (which males lack by definition), though they will commonly approach human beings and buzz loudly around them or fly close to them, especially if they wave, move parts of their body or walk (especially if they walk quickly or make large movements while walking). The female, on the other hand, will sting if provoked. While the pain level of these stings is"
"little too hard."" Also rated into Pain Level 1, Schmidt has described the sting of the sweat bee as ""light, ephemeral, almost fruity. A tiny spark has singed a single hair on your arm."" Schmidt sets the sting of the Western honey bee at a pain level of 2 to be the anchoring value, basing his categorization of all other stings on it. He has categorized a variety of wasps, bees, and ants into Pain Level 2, including the yellowjacket, the Asiatic honey bee, the trap-jaw ant, and the bald-faced hornet. The duration of the stings in this level is"
"stings can be lethal (LD50 is 18-22 stings per kg for humans). An anaphylactic shock can develop if a person has an allergy to the venom. In that case even one sting can be lethal. As a paradox to the symptoms after a bee sting, bee venom is used for treatment of pain, inflammation (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) and multiple sclerosis. Tertiapin may contribute to this effect by prolonging the depolarization phase by blocking the BK channels. Eventually this will lead to inactivation of the voltage-gated Na+ channels of the dorsal root ganglion neurons, reducing sensory transmission to the central nervous"
"Queen bee acid The queen bee acid (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid) or 10-HDA is a bio-active compound found in royal jelly. Royal jelly acid is being investigated for its pharmacological activities. Reports indicate that it promotes neurogenesis of neural stem/progenitor cells (cells capable of differentiating into neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes) ""in vitro"" and could provide an effective method to treat and prevent neurological disorders. In addition, royal jelly acid has been reported to have anti-tumor, anti-biotic, immunomodulatory, estrogenic, neurogenic, and innate immune response modulating activities. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has taken legal action against companies that have"
"female bees have a sting, males do not. Bumble bees typically only sting when defending their nest or when captured. Allergies to bumble bee stings are much less common than allergies to honey bee stings though the venom composition is similar. ""B. bimaculatus"" venom contains additional proteins, including acrosin and a tryptic amidase related to clotting enzymes. Two-spotted bumble bee The two-spotted bumble bee (""Bombus bimaculatus"") is a species of social bumble bee found in the eastern half of the United States and the adjacent south-eastern part of Canada. In older literature this bee is often referred to as ""Bremus"
"Apamin Apamin is an 18 amino acid peptide neurotoxin found in apitoxin (bee venom). Dry bee venom consists of 2–3% of apamin. Apamin selectively blocks SK channels, a type of Ca-activated K channel expressed in the central nervous system. Toxicity is caused by only a few amino acids, these are cysteine, lysine, arginine, arginine and histidine. These amino acids are involved in the binding of apamin to the Ca-activated K channel. Due to its specificity for SK channels, apamin is used as a drug in biomedical research to study the electrical properties of SK channels and their role in the"
"Koschevnikov gland The Koschevnikov gland is a gland of the honeybee located near the sting shaft. The gland produces an alarm pheromone that is released when a bee stings. The pheromone contains more than 40 different compounds, including pentylacetate, butyl acetate, 1-hexanol, n-butanol, 1-octanol, hexylacetate, octylacetate, and 2-nonanol. These components have a low molar mass and evaporate quickly. This collection of compounds is the least specific of all pheromones. The alarm pheromone is released when a honey bee stings another animal to attract other bees to attack, as well. The release of the alarm pheromone may entice more bees to"
"chemical spray in a rapid burst of pulses from special glands in its abdomen, accompanied with a popping sound. The ""Anthia"" (oogpister beetle) will fire formic acid at attackers, probably extracting the formic acid from the ants that it eats. The devil-rider stick insects (""Anisomorpha"") can fire terpenes from glands on the metathorax that can cause an intense burning irritation of the eyes and mouth of potential predators. Wood ants will spray acid at attackers. A type of planthopper of Madagascar is able to flick small balls of honeydew, this attracts day geckos that feed on the honeydew and whose"
"blood cells at low rates were found in the venom of several species of bees, leading to a study of the venom of ""H. sexcinctus. ""Two newly isolated peptides from the venom were found to be significantly different in structure to any other AMPs in the antimicrobial peptide database. These new proteins showed effective antimicrobial activity against four strains of bacteria (""B. subtilis"", ""S. aureus"", ""E. coli"", and ""P. aeruginosa"") and a yeast pathogen (""C. albicans""). While these proteins isolated from ""H. sexcinctus"" venom show good antimicrobial properties, they also show found to damage red blood cells (hemolysis), reducing their"
"piperidines in fire ants, and a variety of protein components in other ants. Bullet ants (""Paraponera""), located in Central and South America, are considered to have the most painful sting of any insect, although it is usually not fatal to humans. This sting is given the highest rating on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index. The sting of jack jumper ants can be fatal, and an antivenom has been developed for it. Fire ants, ""Solenopsis"" spp., are unique in having a venom sac containing piperidine alkaloids. Their stings are painful and can be dangerous to hypersensitive people. Trap-jaw ants of the"
"used as a pesticide in beekeeping to combat the bee mite. Some fungi of the genus ""Aspergillus"" produce oxalic acid. Some preliminary evidence indicates the administration of probiotics can affect oxalic acid excretion rates in a positive manner. Oxalate, the conjugate base of oxalic acid, is an excellent ligand for metal ions. It usually binds as a bidentate ligand forming a 5-membered MOC ring. An illustrative complex is potassium ferrioxalate, K[Fe(CO)]. The drug oxaliplatin exhibits improved water solubility relative to older platinum-based drugs, avoiding the dose-limiting side-effect of nephrotoxicity. Oxalic acid and oxalates can be oxidized by permanganate in an"
"as cattle, have been attacked around the eyes, nostrils, and hooves. Grasslands have dried out because of the increase in plant-sucking insect pests (hemipterans), which the ants cultivate to feed on the sugary ""honeydew"" that they excrete. When attacked, these ant, like other formicine ants, can bite but not sting, and excrete formic acid through a hairy circle or acidopore on the end of the abdomen, using it as a venom, which causes a minute pain that quickly fades. Formic acid was named after the Latin word ""formica"" (ant), because it was first distilled from ants in the 17th century."
"Beta-Amanitin ""beta""-Amanitin or β-amanitin is a cyclic peptide comprising eight amino acids. It is part of a group of toxins called amatoxins, which can be found in several mushrooms belonging to the genus ""Amanita"". Some examples are the death cap (""Amanita phalloides"") and members of the destroying angel complex, which includes ""A. virosa"" and ""A. bisporigera"". Due to the presence of α-amanitin, β-amanitin, γ-amanitin and ε-amanitin these mushrooms are highly lethal to human beings. The lethal dose of amanitoxins is 0.1 mg/kg of body weight of humans. The average Amanita mushroom contains 3–5 mg of amanitoxins, so one 40–50 g"
"most toxic chemicals ever created as an insecticide. The acute oral LD of imidacloprid ranges from 5 to 70 nanograms per bee. Honeybee colonies vary in their ability to metabolize toxins, which explains this wide range. Imidacloprid is more toxic to bees than the organophosphate dimethoate (oral LD 152 ng/bee) or the pyrethroid cypermethrin (oral LD 160 ng/bee). The toxicity of imidacloprid to bees differs from most insecticides in that it is more toxic orally than by contact. The contact acute LD is 0.024 µg active ingredient per bee. Imidacloprid was first widely used in the United States in 1996"