The Buzz About Bees

Most people have been stung by an European honeybee. That's why Schmidt use the honeybee as his basis for the Schmidt Pain Index where he rates how painful different insects' bites and stings are. We go into the most and least painful insects he has been stung by as well as where the honeybee ranks on this scale. 

But getting stung doesn't just end with a little bit of pain. Did you know the honeybee dies after she stings you, unless she's the queen bee? We get into why insects sting, why they die and how this can help defend them, but only to a certain extent. 

Another scientist also indexed the pain from getting stung, but was more specific. This man stung himself specifically with bees to figure out where the most painful places to be stung were. Nate and Laryssa discuss the most painful places they have been stung and why you should ALWAYS wear underwear around honeybees.

For those not interested in getting stung, we review how to get a bee away from you before she stings you and what to do if you're stung to keep the swelling down.

And finally, what exactly are killer bees and have they actually killed anyone? You might be surprised to hear that killer bees are smaller than european honeybees and so have less venom in their stinger. We go into how they got their name and if their nickname is well-deserved or not.