>> As Bob says, with enough stings, the swelling and itching reaction
>> disappear.

I don't get any itching and swelling anymore.
Two nights ago, I was thinking about the oddities of a defensive nuc in my 
yard while sleeping.  So I stopped by the yard on my way down the driveway 
that morning to run a 'test' on the nuc.  I tapped 3 times on the hive 
stand, no reaction from the other nucs, but on the 3 rd tap, about 24 bees 
zipped out of the defensive nuc and went around to my truck tail light 
that was the nearest dark object to that particular nuc.  

I was quite amused by how they attacked the tail light, and didn’t even 
notice me standing 4 feet away!  Just as I was thinking "they don't even 
noticing me"  that’s when they noticed me.   Well,,, as I was picking out 
stings on my way to work, I counted  11 stings from my face and arms.  The 
only one that caused any hurt was a bee that got me on the ear, felt like 
my ear was on fire, it was weird, must have hit a major blood vessel.

Anyhow, the test was a success!

Next test, I want to place a few fresh stings near the entrance to see if 
alarm pheromone sets them off.   I’m considering wearing a set of ear 
muffs for that test. ;)

Joe

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