Do Honey Bees Sting? Are They Dangerous?
Short answer: the honey bee can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects. A honey bee sting is painful and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people; call a local beekeeper for swarms.
Risk rating: Can bite or sting
A honey bee sting is painful and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people; call a local beekeeper for swarms.
Are honey bees dangerous to humans?
A honey bee sting is painful and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people; call a local beekeeper for swarms.
On our four-level scale, the honey bee is rated can bite or sting, meaning it can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects. Honey Bees can sting, so it is worth handling them with care.
Are they dangerous to pets?
Honey Bees can bite or sting curious pets that paw at them or try to eat them. Watch for swelling, drooling or limping, and call your veterinarian right away if your pet has trouble breathing or a large reaction.
Can they damage your home or garden?
Honey Bees don't damage homes or gardens in any meaningful way.
What to do if you are stung
- Move away from the area to avoid more stings.
- If a stinger is left in the skin, scrape it out sideways with a fingernail or card.
- Wash with soap and water and apply a cold pack.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever or antihistamine if needed, following the label.
Call 911 right away if someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness or a racing heartbeat after a bite or sting.
How to identify honey bees
A fuzzy, golden-brown bee with darker bands that pollinates crops and flowers and lives in large colonies. A worker's barbed stinger stays in the skin after it stings.
- Golden-brown to amber body with dark abdominal bands
- Hairy thorax and pollen baskets on the hind legs
- Barbed stinger left behind after stinging
| Scientific name | Apis mellifera |
|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps |
| Size | 12–15 mm (up to about 0.59 in) |
| Colors | Yellow, Brown and Black |
| Legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes |
| Where found | Garden or plants |
| Most active | Spring, Summer and Fall |
| Bites | No |
| Stings | Yes |
| Risk level | Can bite or sting |
When you'll see honey bees
Honey Bees are most active in spring, summer and fall. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly. In fall, many bugs look for shelter, and some move toward or into buildings.
Typical places to check: garden or plants.
About bees & wasps
The honey bee is one of the bees & wasps. Bees and wasps belong to the same order as ants. Social species such as honey bees, bumble bees, yellowjackets and hornets live in colonies with a queen, while solitary species such as mud daubers and cicada killers raise their young alone. Only females can sting, because the stinger is a modified egg-laying tube.
Social wasp colonies grow all summer and are largest and most defensive in late summer and early fall. Most colonies die off in winter, leaving only new queens to start over in spring.
How to avoid problems with honey bees
You don't need to control honey bees. If one is in the way, gently move it outdoors with a cup and a piece of paper. A honey bee sting is painful and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people; call a local beekeeper for swarms.
Frequently asked questions
Do honey bees bite?
No. A honey bee sting is painful and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people; call a local beekeeper for swarms.
Do honey bees sting?
Yes, they can sting.
Are honey bees poisonous?
The honey bee can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects. A honey bee sting is painful and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people; call a local beekeeper for swarms.
Where do honey bees live?
Honey Bees are usually found in gardens and on plants, and are most active in spring, summer and fall.