Can Bees Bite?
Yes, bees can bite, although this behavior is not as commonly discussed as their ability to sting. The mechanics and reasons for bee biting vary slightly depending on the species and context, but here’s an explanation:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and Biting
Honey bees are primarily known for their stings, which they use as a defense mechanism. However, worker bees are capable of biting using their mandibles (jaws), though this is generally used for:
Grooming and manipulating wax during hive construction.
Feeding larvae or processing pollen and nectar.
Grabbing or pinching intruders, such as small pests like wax moth larvae or Varroa mites.
Recent studies have confirmed that honey bees can bite small parasites, and in doing so, they can release a chemical anesthetic (2-heptanone) that can paralyze or stun the pest, allowing the bee to remove it from the hive. This isn't a bite in the same painful, aggressive way we think of with many other animals, but it is technically a defensive bite with functional purpose.
Solitary and Other Bee Species
Some solitary bees and other species may use their mandibles more forcefully:
Carpenter bees have strong jaws and may bite or chew through wood, not out of aggression but as part of their nesting behavior.
If handled, some larger solitary bees might attempt to bite as a form of defense, though it is usually not painful to humans.
Bee bites, especially from honey bees, are not generally painful or noticeable to humans. They're mainly effective against much smaller threats. In contrast, the sting is what humans typically react to because it delivers venom and causes pain, swelling, and sometimes allergic reactions.
Do Bees Bite?
Bees are most likely to bite when dealing with non-human intruders that require precision and jaw strength rather than venom. Here’s when bees resort to biting behavior instead of stinging:
Defending the Hive from Small Intruders
Bees frequently use biting as a first line of defense against invaders that are too small to sting effectively, such as:
Varroa mites: Parasitic mites that latch onto adult bees and brood.
Wax moth larvae: Invasive pests that burrow into hive wax and cause structural damage.
Small beetles or larvae: Other intruders small enough to evade or not trigger a sting response.
Bees bite these pests using their mandibles to grab, crush, or disable them. Honey bees have been observed secreting a mild anesthetic chemical, 2-heptanone, from their jaws during biting, which temporarily paralyzes small threats—helping them remove or neutralize the invader without a struggle.
Conflict or Policing Among Bees
In rare cases of in-colony conflict, worker bees may bite each other during:
Policing (e.g., removing worker-laid eggs).
Enforcing hierarchy or hive discipline.
Rejecting or attacking a queen (queen balling) — this may include mandible use alongside stinging to suffocate or eliminate an unwanted queen.
While more common in extreme colony stress, this behavior shows that bees may use biting as part of internal enforcement.
Handling or Physical Restraint (By Humans)
If a bee is physically restrained or pinched but cannot sting due to the angle, it may attempt to bite as a reflex, particularly larger species like carpenter bees. Most of the time, this isn’t painful or harmful to humans, but it can happen, especially with solitary bees or queens being handled for research or hive management.
Bee Bites
Bees don’t typically bite people — they primarily sting as their main defense mechanism. However, in rare cases, bees (especially certain species like the honeybee or bumblebee) can bite using their mandibles when trying to defend their nest or restrain small insects or parasites. When a bee bite does occur on human skin, it usually doesn’t inject venom and is far less serious than a sting, but it can still pose a few minor risks:
Localized Irritation or Redness – The mechanical bite can break the skin slightly, causing mild discomfort, redness, or itching similar to a mosquito bite.
Secondary Infection – Because any break in the skin can allow bacteria to enter, scratching or failing to clean the bite site could lead to a minor infection such as folliculitis or impetigo.
Allergic Reaction (Rare) – Although bee bites don’t involve venom, some individuals with heightened sensitivity may still experience localized swelling or itching due to the bee’s saliva, which can contain trace proteins.
Misidentified Sting – Sometimes, what people perceive as a “bee bite” is actually a sting, which carries greater risks including significant pain, swelling, and potential anaphylaxis in allergic individuals.
Bee bites themselves are low-risk and uncommon, but if you experience significant swelling, warmth, or signs of infection, it’s best to clean the area thoroughly and consult a healthcare provider.
What Do Bee Bites Look Like?
Bee bites are extremely uncommon because bees generally don’t have mouthparts strong enough to pierce human skin in a meaningful way. Their mandibles are designed mainly for chewing wood, pollen, or wax—not for biting humans. That said, there are a few situations where a bee might “bite” a person—usually if it’s a defensive reaction when the bee is trapped or handled. For example, some bumblebees or carpenter bees may nibble briefly, but this is very different from a sting.
Appearance of a bee bite:
Usually minimal or barely visible; often a small red mark or slight abrasion.
Can appear as a tiny scratch, small puncture, or superficial cut.
May be slightly tender, but it generally does not produce the swelling, redness, or pain associated with a sting.
Rarely, there may be minor bleeding if the bee’s mandibles scrape the skin.
Bee stings are more noticeable: they cause a red, raised, sometimes itchy welt and can have a central puncture point where the stinger was.
Essentially, if you’re looking at a mark and wondering if it’s a bite or a sting, bites from bees are so subtle that most “bee bites” people report are actually stings.
What To Do About Bee Bites
If a bee bites you — which is quite rare — the bite is usually minor and not dangerous. However, it’s still important to care for the area properly to prevent irritation or infection. Here’s what you should do:
Clean the Area Immediately – Gently wash the bite site with soap and warm water to remove any dirt, bacteria, or saliva residue left by the bee. This helps prevent infection.
Apply a Cold Compress – Use a clean, cold cloth or ice pack wrapped in a towel for 10–15 minutes to reduce any mild swelling, redness, or discomfort.
Use a Soothing Topical Treatment – Apply an over-the-counter anti-itch cream, hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion to ease itching and irritation. Aloe vera gel can also provide natural relief.
Take an Oral Antihistamine if Needed – If you experience itching or slight swelling, an antihistamine like cetirizine or diphenhydramine can help calm your body’s reaction.
Avoid Scratching – Scratching can break the skin further and increase the risk of infection.
Monitor for Infection or Allergic Reaction – Watch for signs like increased redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or spreading rash — these may indicate infection. If you develop difficulty breathing, dizziness, or swelling in the face or throat (even though extremely unlikely from a bite), seek medical attention immediately.
In most cases, a bee bite heals quickly on its own with basic first aid. If you’re uncertain whether it was a bite or sting, or if you experience more than mild discomfort, it’s best to consult a medical professional for confirmation and appropriate care.