Bombus
Bumblebees prefer cool and temperate climates and are mainly found in
Europe, Asia, and North America. It is estimated that there are about
250 different bumblebee species. In Europe, the European large earth
bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is the most
common.5
Bumblebees can sting several times without attachment of the sting
apparatus to the skin. The protein content per bumblebee sting is 10-31
µg depending on the species compared to 59 µg per honey bee
sting.6 As bumblebees are not aggressive, the risk of
being stung is very low in the general population. The worldwide use of
domesticated bumblebees as crop pollinators7 has led
to an increasing prevalence of bumblebee venom (BBV) allergy, especially
in greenhouse workers and bumblebee farm employees.5SSR due to BBV have been consistently described, mostly in occupational
settings.8-11