Anaphylactic Shock and Strong Cardiac Stimulation Caused by Stings of the Bumble BeeBombus terrestris(Hymenoptera: Apidae)

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Abstract
Anaphylactic shock caused by 2 stings from worker B. terrestris (L.) is recorded and described for the first time. Bumble bees are therefore possible agents of serious human envenomation in New Zealand and elselvhere. Strong cardiac stimulation before any sensations that would indicate dilation of peripheral blood vessels, and which results in compensatory increase of cardiac function, indicates that the bumble bee venom contains a substance or substances similar in effect to some of those in honey bee venom that can cause anaphylactic shock. Electrophoretic analysis of honey bee and bumble bee venom indicates, however, that the two are qualitatively different.