I have been bit/stung in the face while riding twice in the past month. I wear a full face with sheild but have the shield up at slow speeds.The first sting was just under my eye after the bee bounced off my sunglasses. This sting was typical, minor swelling like a mosquito bite and then went away after an hour or two.





Then yesterday I was riding in the same area of the county when I had another bee come in hit my nose lip area (no sting) then fall onto my chin curtain where it then lit my chin up like the 4th of July. It was such a hot, intense burn that I thought for sure it was a cigarette. I pulled over asap and got my helmet off to find a small bee. It looked like an ordinary bee, I'm sure I have been stung with before with no issues so i snapped a couple pics and went on down the road. After 10 minutes my face was tingling and my head was feeling minor light headed?  I pulled over again and looked in the mirror. My chin was purple, sore. I got back on the bike and got home, but developed a pretty good headache. I don't know if the headache was from the bee or if it was from simply being disgusted with the whole incident fucking up an otherwise awesome ride. All my years of riding the only time I have been stung is this year.





Anyone know what type of bee this is? My face is still swollen/sore after 12+hours. The only Bee critter that has ever took me down was the Japanese Hornet and they almost killed me when I was a kid. If I had gotten into a nest of these small things I hate to think how bad they would have whooped me.












 

Honey Bee

They're out foraging, when you smack into them or vise versa, they tend to sting. They can only sting once. You'll just have to deal with the swelling for a few more days.

A dead one.

That's a Carolina Buzzing Possum, if i'm not mistaken.

Spelling Bee. You'll no longer be allowed to post on Arfcom.

Obligatory

That's a half bee.

Forget the bee...what kind of camera did you use?  Great pics!

Thanks BTH. The swelling wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't my face I suppose



 

EXIF information is your friend.  



Canon PowerShot A1000 IS
 

Airwolf beat me to it: Canon Power Shot A1000is. It fits in my jacket pocket, has been very durable. I like to take pics when I'm out riding so its almost always with me. I use it to record video too.

 

Eric the half bee?

At first I thought it was a boo-bee, but then noticed it was nowhere near the chest.

I soak them with spray...they need to watch out for me!