Bees and Bee Stings
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Residential beekeeping is becoming more common in many cities and the thought of flying, stinging insects may cause some neighbors concern. Before becoming alarmed, understand how bee stings can affect someone. The USDA website has this helpful information on bee stings:
“If you are stung by a honey bee, one of the most important things to do is not to panic. Panic by the person stung or those around him/her can produce a systemic reaction in itself. Many people believe they are allergic to honey bees when in fact they are experiencing symptoms of a normal reaction. Only a very limited portion of the population (one or two out of 1000) is allergic or hypersensitive to bee or wasp stings. The average person can safely tolerate 10 stings per pound of body weight. This means that although 500 stings could kill a child, the average adult could withstand more than 1100 stings.”
If you find a swarm of bees, it's best to call a professional to remove them. Bees are prolific pollinators and aid in pollinating many of the foods we consume. Moving a swarm of bees instead of eradicating them allows the colony to pollinate plants elsewhere. Several beekeepers in Johnson County will come assist with swarm removal.
Unsure if the insect is a honey bee or something else? Our extension agents can assist you in identifying which black and yellow insect is in your yard, and yes, there are several lookalikes.
Other Resources
Wild bees naturally swarm in the spring. If you find a bee swarm on your property these beekeepers are available to come and remove the swarm. Please do not destroy the swarm. Bees are under environmental pressure. They are valuable pollinators for the local agriculture industry.