Bees are a common site in our gardens during the spring and summer and are closely related to ants and wasps. Bees are ‘worker’ insects and generally do a fantastic job at helping to aid pollination. One of the most common types of bee recognised is the honey bee, and these also have a very obvious and real purpose. Unlike wasps, bees tend to be more socialable and less aggressive, although, like wasps they will attack if provoked or threatened. Bees stinging capacity ranges from not being able to do it at all, through to being able to sting multiple times. Some bees can only sting once and will die upon doing so. Just like being stung by wasps, bee stings are mildly painful and uncomfortable but only normally cause local effects. For some people however, severe allergic reactions can also result from bee stings so caution is needed. It is possible to reduce or avoid the risk of being stung altogether, by taking simple sensible and practical steps.