Information about specific insects - bees, wasps and ants

Bees, wasps, ants, hornets etc. are all part of the hymenoptera family, one of the largest, both by the number of species (over 100,000) and by the high degree of their complexity and diversity of behaviour. They inhabit the world over and their venomous function is particularly developed.

BEES

Bees are part of the hymenoptera family. It has a large number of species, more than 20,000 in total. Bees are not aggressive per se, unless they feel threatened, which is the case if you are less than 10 metres from a bee hive or from their 2 or 3 pollen gathering paths. Certain other conditions can raise their aggressiveness - such as wind, a storm, artificial perfumes, alcohol or even sweat. Their barbed sting, which comes off during the attack, stays in the wound with a pulsating venom pouch attached which keeps dispensing the poison even after the bee has flown off to die. 

The bumble bee, from the Apides family, like the honey bee, has a safe reputation, but it may occasionally sting man. The effects of a hymenoptera sting can be negligible, but in a certain number of cases very strong reactions are experienced which may lead to the person’s death. Aspivenin is very effective against poisoning from insect stings, although this in no way excludes recourse from seeking immediate medical attention in the case of a serious reaction on the part of the victim.

In the case of bee stings, it is important to try not to rub the wound as this only serves to squeeze the venom sac attached to the sting, and push even more venom into the wound. The vacuum created over the wound site by the Aspivenin® pump actually bursts the venom sac and draws poison back up the shaft of the sting itself. Once this has been done the sting itself should be extracted with a pair of tweezers.

WASPS

The wasp is part of the hymenoptera family. It is characterised by its narrow waist and its black and yellow striped robe. It is an omnivore. Like the bee, the venomous device is an ovipositor (an organ used to lay eggs). Transformed into a sting, and with venom glands, it is used to paralyze prey or it acts as a defensive weapon. Since its sting, unlike the bee’s, is smooth, it can sting repeatedly. It’s the most aggressive hymenoptera, especially in the Autumn when food is scarce. Their nests are usually underground or located in attics or roofs and there may be up to 10,000 individual wasps in a nest. The queen lives for about a year and the workers often just a few weeks. Their work is allotted according to task. 

Wasps and hornets of the Vespides family are responsible for the largest number of sting attacks in Europe. It must be noted that while the hornet is not very aggressive, it remains more dangerous because its sting can inject its venom directly into the blood. The effects of a hymenoptera sting are generally negligible, but in a certain number of cases very strong reactions are experienced which may lead to anaphylactic shock and even the person’s death. 

Aspivenin® is very effective against poisoning from all insect stings, and used promptly will significantly, and painlessly, help to reduce the amount of venom in the wound. This in no way excludes immediate recourse to medical care as soon as possible for those people who suffer from an extreme allergic reaction such as anaphylactic shock, although use of the Aspivenin® immediately will help to reduce the allergic reaction.  

ANTS

The ant is part of the hymenoptera order. It is probably the most common creature on the planet. The ant, or formicidae, family lives in large communities or nests. There are several types of individuals; two female castes comprising workers and reproducers (known as "gynes") and males. Workers make up the majority of the society. They are what one sees most often in nature. The females have a complete, mainly defensive, venom device. Ants are not always stingers in spite of a venom gland and a non-functioning sting, although in that case they bite. In temperate zones, even multiple bites are rarely dangerous, though they are irritating and often quite unpleasant. 

However, some tropical species can cause strong, if not serious, reactions. For instance, the Fire Ant not only bites, but then projects its venom (made partly of extraordinarily formic acid) onto the wound it inflicts. The Aspivenin pump, tested in real life conditions by Pharmaciens sans Frontieres in the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle proved its worth in many cases of bites from giant ants. The research involved a local Indian tribe called the Shuar-Ashuar, and a satisfaction rate of 97% was recorded after using the Aspivenin pump for the treatment of giant ant bites, scorpion stings, tarantula attack and snakebites. 

Aspivenin® will quickly reduce the pain and discomfort of an ant bite, and help to alleviate the symptoms of an allergic reaction; this does not exclude  recourse to medical care as soon as possible, in serious cases, when bitten, for example, by the giant ants of the Amazonian forest.