[neilep (OP)]

I've heard that it's theoretically impossible for Bees to fly...but I remember last summer seeing a Bee...and I'm sure it flew !!..so..tell me why it can fly when it's not supposed to bee able too [?]

Incidentally... I love stroking Bees.....you grab a dandelion or other type bee loving flower,
 hold it next to a beesy pollen collecting Bee and when Bee lands on it, it's so beesy collecting
 pollen, that you can stroke it's furry back !!!...my kids love me doing this....try it...
but don't blame me if it stings you !!..I mean, they have to Bee really peeved to do
that anyway eh ?...oh, and don't try putting a leash on it either..they hate that !![)]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Donnah]

I think it has to do with the wing pattern being an 8 rather than flapping up and down.  Or maybe I'm thinking of hummingbirds, the only birds that can hover.  Weren't helicopters designed after studying bees?  

Neil, while you are petting the bees, for goodness sake don't tell them that they can't fly.

[nilmot]

Are bees aggressive? If not I would like to try to stroke one. I've got stung once in primary school, but I think it was a wasp.

As for the flying thing.. no idea. Is the weight of the bees too heavy for they wings?

Tom

[neilep (OP)]

Tom, go for it !!..They are NOT aggressive at all...they will only sting when you really
really really pi...err..annoy them, cos after all...it's a death sentance for em...
unlike wasps which are sadists !!..and can quite happilly sting you till the cows come
home......I've been stroking bees for years and have never been stung....they're so
 cute !!!...espesh the big fluffy ones !!!!....just do what I said above...it's quite an
invigorating experience !!!...and then we can start a 'bee strokers' club !!!

DISCLAIMER: I can not be held responsible for the behaviour of pyscho bees !!!



'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[neilep (OP)]

Tom, if a bee stings you it leaves it's insides at the puncture site pumping in the venom because of the barbed sting they have(and the they die soon after).......if you did not see that when you were stung in school then it was probably a wasp, who have smooth stings......!!

In fact that just begs the question...Why do bees have barbed stings and wasps not ?...answers pleezzzzzzzzzzz !! ??

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[CsManiacDan]

Wasps and bees are quite similar in most respects so i would think it's just some kind of evolutionary thing that means bees are barbed but wasps are not.

As to why there not supposed to be able to fly, dunno. Maybe tom's got it right with the weight being wrong.

I Love Caesium!!!

[tweener]

Bees are neat and usually not aggressive.  However, be aware that some species are quite agressive (african bees) and will sting with little provocation.  I've never stroked bees, but it sounds interesting.  My father-in-law used to keep bees and really likes handling them.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

[nilmot]

I think I'll try it since the weather is much better now. I more and more bees are coming out.

What is meant by barbed sting, and how should it be neutralise if you are to be stung by one?

Tom

[neilep (OP)]

...A barbed sting is a sting with like hooks on it , so that when the sting goes in,
it will not come out without using force. Imagine a rose stem with the thorns, if that
was to enter a body with the thorns pointing up, then they would grasp the flesh and
 be difficult to pull out.....errr....I hope you understand what I mean......Bee stings
 are acid (wasps stings are alkaline), best remedies can be found in your store cupboard.
 Remove the bee stings ASAP then soothe it with a solution of bicarbonate of soda
and water to counteract the acidity. Wasp stings, use vinegar. DO NOT CONFUSE THE TWO,
 it'll hurt big time !!!..enjiy your petting and making friends with happy bees !!!

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[bezoar]

We always used meat tenderizer.

[neilep (OP)]

...was that so you could have a BBQ afterwards ?

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Donnah]

That would be a Bar-Bee-Q, right?

[MayoFlyFarmer]

The aggressiveness of both bee's and wasps varies by season too... they get way more aggressive in fall when they sense winter coming.  I never realized the difference in alkalinity between the two... I was always told to use baking soda... good ting I never used it on a bee sting just wasps.  
First aid tip... if you get stung and still see the stinger in, use a credit card to "flick" it away.

We don't want the loonies taking over!

[neilep (OP)]

quote:Originally posted by Donnah

That would be a Bar-Bee-Q, right?

YEP that's right, a bar-Bee-Q ...can I come...I love BBQs

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[tweener]

I don't know how many remedies I've tried for wasp stings.  I don't think any of them really work - it still hurts.  Somehow wasps know how to find the most sensitive place that is not covered.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

[neilep (OP)]

Wouldn't wanna be around some wasps on a nudist beach eh ?  *smirk*


'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[tweener]

I can hardly even imagine!

The worst one I ever got was on the neck.  Right where it feels so good to get kissed.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

[neilep (OP)]

I got a sting somewhere worse than that..ALSO in a place I like to be kissed *hee hee*...Oh god !!! Thats what happens to me at 4am !!!....I'm gonna hit the sack and seek out some ZZZZZZds.....nighty night !!

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Exodus]

I got stung on my face once and it swole right up... my lips looked like suit case handles!!! LOL

Resident Tour Operator The Naked Scientists

[Donnah]

Justin, baking soda is for bee stings.  Vinegar is for wasp stings.  

John, sounds like you missed a good opportunity.  Didn't you elicit your wife's sympathy and ask her to kiss it better?

Richard, do you have any pictures of that?  I love to be entertained!

Neil, I didn't need a nudist beach.  At age 13 I was riding on a bus (with a choir) and a wasp flew in my shirt and stung me 13 times.  Lucky me huh?  I'm not sure whether it was more difficult to get the wasp out while it was stinging me, or to beat off the plethora of 13 year old boys offering to reach in and get the wasp out of my shirt.