Thousands of dead as well as dying bees have washed up on a popular Southern Florida beach starting this weekend.
According to beachgoers in Naples, they had to watch where they stepped on the sandy shores after some people reported being stung in the area, WBBH-TV reported.
Puzzling Discovery
“I’ve been stung a couple of times,” said Naples resident Martha Duff in an NBC-2 report, pointing to a recent painful bee encounter. “At first, I didn’t know what it was and then I realized and then I had an allergic reaction.”
Duff, like other residents seeing dead bees instead of the typical seashells or seaweed, wondered how the problem began a couple of days ago, where the bees came from, and why they washed up in a very specific beach area.
According to city officials, facilities maintenance crews were working last Monday to check into the problem. Last Tuesday, they also ventured to probe further, hopefully getting an answer as to why the stingers converged in the beach location.
Bee experts told ABC-7 that it is rather uncommon for bees to wash up on beaches. They pointed to a possible pesticide spraying in a nearby area, which likely forced them to the water. A swarm could also have flown overhead, become tired, and flew into the water.
What To Do With Bee Stings
Bees, wasps, and similar insects can sting, with pain as the main symptom. The sting is a puncture wound or skin laceration, with the bee venom inducing a local toxic reaction at the site of attack. In certain individuals, this reaction is allergic.
Symptoms of a bee sting usually signal a severe allergic reaction and thus require urgent medical care. Reactions could range from mild to severe, although only around 3 percent of children typically experience any allergic response.
A simple bee sting could lead to a sharp and burning pain that lasts a few seconds, a swollen red mark that could turn painful and itchy, and redness that may peak at about 48 hours post-sting and last up to a week. Worse symptoms include extreme redness and swelling, swollen and painful joints, and nausea and vomiting from a severe reaction.
Here are some home treatment remedies for a bee sting:
• Remove the stinger carefully if it remains. Wipe over it using a piece of gauze or scrape a nail or piece of card over it.
• Stay calm, as insects such as wasps and hornets can sting once again. Do not panic or wave around.
• Wash the site of the bee sting with plain soap and water.
• Apply a cold compress using ice, frozen peas, or a cold fabric for reducing the swelling.
• Reduce pain by using aspirin or acetaminophen. Get an anesthetic or antihistamine from the pharmacy to reduce swelling.
• Avoid scratching the area, which could worsen the problem and cause an infection.
• Avoid squeezing the stinger, which could cause it to inject more venom. For this purpose, avoid using tweezers.
It is advisable to wear clean, light-colored, smooth clothing and maintain good personal hygiene, as sweat, for instance, may anger bees. Engage professional services when removing nests near your home.
