Bee and wasp stings
Most of us have had a wasp or bee sting at some time in our life.
A bee will only sting if it, or the hive is threatened. Unfortunately there is little you can do to treat a bee sting other than ensuring the stinger is removed and a ice pack applied. Putting on lotions, or other remedies will only provide topical relief as you cannot neutralize the poison that is already inside.
As you can see by the photo comparing a bee stinger with a needle the stinger is very sharp and very tiny. The stinger is barbed and will work its way into the skin injecting the venom at the same time, however that is the end of the bee as the stinger cannot be extracted and the bee will rip its stinger out of its abdomen.
The wasp stinger is not barbed and it can sting multiple times. The second photo is of a wasp stinger and the third is what the poor bee leaves behind.
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Moe mai rā, Nicholas.
We're sad to announce the passing of Nicholas Boyack, our Hutt Valley reporter who has long written for The Dominion Post, The Hutt News and Upper Hutt Leader.
Moe mai rā, Nicholas.
We're sad to announce the passing of Nicholas Boyack, our Hutt Valley reporter who has long written for The Dominion Post, The Hutt News and Upper Hutt Leader.