Bumble Bees

[12 point]

Never had any trouble with them up until a few years ago when I was brushhogging on a tractor and ran over a nest of them. That was a painful experience that won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Just the other day while walking on some trails there were several of them flying from flower to flower. Thought they'd leave me alone, since I wasn't bothering them, but I was wrong. All of a sudden,one that wasn't bright yellow like the others, suddenly came after me.

You could see it was determined to track me down by sweeping side to side on the trail. So, I decided to get off the trail and thought he'd just fly right on past. I was wrong again. Didn't get stung, but managed to fight it off with my cowboy hat.

Have any of y'all noticed how aggressive the bumble bees are acting? I don't know what the difference is with the ones that don't have the bright yellow bands, but they are super fast and aggressive.

[poisonivie]

I actually haven't seen one in years.

[rjtkdplus]

They are attracted to colors, usually, they will leave after a few seconds.

[Bone Thug]

I was bowhunting out of a tripod East of Ballinger, years ago...Minding my own business. Never thought that sucker would attack me like he did. That stupid thing drilled me right on the neck.
First and only time to have been stung by a Bubble Bee.

[BBReezen]

Catch one and put it in your armpit... It'll make you squeal like a little girl.

[Hart8]

Ran over them once pushing brush with a skid loader.They were going berserk outside the cab! Luckily they couldn't get to me.I told an old man who was about to do some front end loader work in the same area to avoid them.He said,"If they get after ya,just be perfectly still,and they'll go away".....Okay,I'd like to see someone being attacked by a hundred angry bumblebees be still on a noisy arse tractor...

[RascalArms]

I haven't seen a bumble bee in many years but I remember being stung by one while mowing the lake lot as a kid. Left a h*** of an impression...believe me!

[denimdeerslayer]

If its tail end wasn't yellow it most likely was a wood bee.

[Bullydog]

When you run away, be sure to drop your hat they will pop it first sometimes. If your not wearing a hat, run faster.

[DBLHKUP]

Growing up they nested in a squirrel box mounted on the back side of the garage. While standing back 40' decided to throw a baseball and hit the box, my buddies and I made it inside the house in time. My black lab fought those rascals off for every bit of 5 minutes. She killed at least 40, only got hit a couple times.

[Hookem84]

When I was little my oldest brother raised them for there honey I think FFA. Had a bee hive and everything in the backyard I got swarmed by them took a lot of stings. I was probly 4 still remember it clearly to this day. Bout the only thing I remember from that age. Also a year ago had one in my dr pepper stung me right on the lip driving down 1431 with our big 20ft trailer loaded with cabinets thought I was gonna wreck.

[BarW]

Ran over a nest of in the ground once while mowing. Got popped about 15 times before I could get away. The stings were bad enough but I had a reaction ran a fever and vomiting for 24 hours. Hate those things.

[BTLowry]

Got stung by a bumble bee when I was a kid and I have never forgotten it


Don't think I could sit still while they swarmed me either. Especially after I heard that worked for wasps and got stung in the temple while standing still as a statue.
Sitting still is BS as far as I am concerned

[12 point]

If its tail end wasn't yellow it most likely was a wood bee.

Probably was. Used to kill them things in Oklahoma when they'd drill into the wood on the front porches of houses.

When you run away, be sure to drop your hat they will pop it first sometimes. If your not wearing a hat, run faster.

My hat was what saved me from many more stings the first time they got me while on a tractor. What made it worse was when I baled off the tractor I was in high grass and didn't see some short sections of telephone poles in the exact location I was running to. Tripped over them while I was running and at the same time trying to get the critters off my face. Injured my right arm when I fell on it. Got up swinging and managed to roll while taking off a long sleeve UV blocking shirt. Thankfully when they first attacked me, many of them were stinging the brim of my hat. But, I still got stung in the cheek and lips.
Glad I'm not allergic. Left the tractor sitting for about an hour before I came back to try to start it and get the heck out of there. Came back again that night and got revenge.

[jay07ag]

Bumblebees can be very agressive and are extremely territorial. They will chase after birds and any other type of insect that tries to fly inside their territory.