Greetings all I find the whole cross-immunity story very intere-sting, but never heard any explanation that makes a lot of sense to me. In an ever more legally-conscious world, this will have to be worked out sometime. My story. Throughout my youth I showed almost no reaction at all to mosquito bites - and I had plenty. When I started working with bees I exhibited what I guess was normal swelling, which gradually decreased to nothing over a period of about three years. Now I hardly react at all to bee stings - but if I get bitten by a mosquito, I swell up in balloon fashion. Co-incidence? Perhaps! As an aside: bee venom is very similar to cobra venom, in composition and in effect. There are many beekeepers who routinely get stung by hundreds of bees and show no reaction. Are they cross-resistant to cobras as well. Any volunteers? Cheers Mike Mike Allsopp Honeybee Research Unit email: [log in to unmask] Plant Protection Res. Inst. [log in to unmask] Agricultural Research Council Tel: (0027) (021) 887-4690 Private Bag X5017 Fax: (0027) (021) 883-3285 Stellenbosch 7599 South Africa