So I'm removing weeds and random little trees that surround a huge oak tree in my front yard. The tree is surrounded by a round section seperated form the yard by stone and covered with dense clover and ivy. I'm almost done, and I'm in the densest part. First one sting. No big deal, its on my left shoulder. I look and see the bee doing his thing and swat him off. That was one sting. I figure it was random as I can't hear any buzzing or see any bees and I keep going. Suddenly, I am being stung all over my torso at the same damn time. It was like someone shot me with salt rock. I back away quickly about 20 feet and I realize I'm under a full blown attack. I'm still being stung, so I ran to the backyard as I begin to disrobe, get to the back, turn on the hose and stand under it counting my wounds. I'm not allergic, obviously, but I've never been stung so many times. It was actually a little disorienting. I can easily see how those allergic and the elderly can succumb to a swarm. I guess I'll bomb it, I don;t want them to swarm the mailman or something!

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1984 300D turbo, 250K
1971 MGBGT, 101K
2007 VW Jetta, 4K

If I were you I would keep some benydryl or other anti-histimine handy( phenygren, whatever). If one flies down your throat and stings you, you could be in deep sheeeite. Also, as an adult, you can easily develop an allergy on the spot, without ever having reacted to something like that before. Like me and crabmeat Bee careful (sorry).

You also ought to make sure the stingers are out, because a true bee usually leaves its stinger in the victim and it can cause an infection.

I stepped in a pine stump hole one day as a kid and about 20 yellow jackets flew up my pants leg. Not allergic either, but those bastards can sting and sting and sting becausee they bite and don't use a stinger. had to cut my pantsleg off my leg was so swollen.

Glad you lived to tell about it.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Could they be hornets, yellow jackets or wasps instead?

I'm not entirely sure of the difference but I think hornets live in nests in the ground. In any event you must have done something to their hive/nest. If you did enough damage they will probably move on to another home, hopefully far away from your yard!

Of the bunch I think bees are the most benign.

Lately I've been around bees, wasps, and hornets (if indeed they have the ground nests), and they don't seem interested in bothering you so long as you're just lookin.'

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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

Ask you Doc for an Epi-Pen prescription,without it 4-5 stings and I'm deader than Kelsey's balls.Sid can probably explain it better.

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Sounds like you encountered yellow jackets to me! Most likely by swatting at the first one you aroused the rest of the hive who came at you like an army. They fly fast as jets and in addition to their stinger will keep biting you even after stinging you. Not much you can do but try to outrun them and like I said they fly as fast as jets, unlike other bees and hornets. They are nasty little creatures because they just keep on biting you. Sorry to hear of your encounter but in many instances they have their hives in the ground and you may have inadvertantly stepped on their hive entrance.

It was a bunch of these guys of various sizes. I went back to the scene and I could hear some buzzing going omn, and there were a bunch of little, younger ones flying around the area where the nest was!

Heres where I was wroking. You can see how my work was abruptly stopped!

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1984 300D turbo, 250K
1971 MGBGT, 101K
2007 VW Jetta, 4K

I don't know anything about Kelsey's applesack. However, here's the diddy on the Epi Pens- they are Epinephrine which stops the alergic reaction your body has to the bee stings. Stops the swelling and helps with breathing problems you may encounter. To stop the stinging sensation you can use either white vinegar or windex (has amonia in it) try this on a small area first. You can take benedryl this will help if you start itching. If you start to have problems, with swelling and breathing get your butt to the doctors.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Punch the bees IN THE FACE.

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

Same happened to me a couple years ago. I was cutting back some dead branches and I saw all these funny little balls on my arms and legs. Realized too late they were all bees in the stinging position. I ran for the house but then realized I would be bringing a swarm of bees inside with me, so I made a u-turn and rolled down the front lawn. Kids thought it was pretty comical. Many, many welts from that mishap.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

On riding my motorcycle without a shirt for the last time and hit a bee, from behind, right in the nipple. That was the fastest I've ever stopped a motorcycle. I swelled up to a "B" cup on that side.

Sorry to laugh at your pain, but....

Hey, you posted it!

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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

A little local history,happened not 3 blocks from where I live,sort of a local proverb.


http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs604a,0,6698944.story

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That is a yellowjacket.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

I think thats a ground hornet. Yellow jackets around here are skinnier, not as pissed off at the world.

I was stung 17 times a few yrs back by the same thing while on the tractor.
Didn't think I would make it. I feel your pain.