[Pollinator] Fwd: Question to pass on_NAPPC - Bee repellent?

[Barry Thompson]

Robin, Laurie,
   There aren't many effective repellents for Hymenoptera, as far as I know. DEET is offered as a component but may not be what you, Robin, see as non-toxic. Undertaking desensitization as soon as possible and carrying epinephrine (EpiPen) seems the most rational approach. No doubt, your allergist has suggested staying away from "dangerous" situations, insofar as that's possible.
Do take heart though; desensitization is relatively painless, rapid and effective. Good luck!
Barry

Barry H Thompson, MD, FACMG Medical Director
American College of Medical Genetics
Bethesda, Maryland

                      Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 29, 2011, at 12:57 AM, Ladadams at aol.com wrote:

> Anyone have ideas for Robin?
> From: robin_eisman at yahoo.com
> To: Ladadams at aol.com
> CC: steve at thebeeworks.com
> Sent: 7/28/2011 9:23:02 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
> Subj: Question to pass on_NAPPC
>  
> Dear Laurie,
> 
> Hope you're doing well - and that you remember my name.  I co-chaired the Consumer Outreach TF for a while, but "dropped out" of NAPPC a few years ago because of overwhelming commitments.  I'm hoping you can direct me to the right person to answer a couple questions, which may also be useful for others.  I've discovered that I'm allergic to one or more hymenoptera, after ending up in the ER a couple of weeks ago with severe anaphylaxis after a sting.  This is pretty devastating for me, given that I occasionally do field work in remote areas (and garden at home and volunteer in/manage a couple local parks/gardens, but those are at least close to major hospitals).  So here are the questions that I'm hoping to get professional advice on - lots of items on the Web, but I don't trust much of that.  
> 
> - for personal protection (until I can - hopefully - start desensitization therapy and reach maintenance dosing in ~6 months) - is there something I can use on myself as a repellent to bees/wasps?  ie, something non-toxic that's a true repellent.
> 
> - are there any native bees with venomous stings?  My allergist can test for and provide desensitization therapy for the following:  vespids (yellowjackets / Vespula spp, white-faced and yellow hornets / Dolichovespula spp); honeybees; fire ants; and paper wasps (Polistes spp).  These apparently account for most but not all insect stings - so I'm trying to figure out how much risk I'm at in terms of other venomous insects, and whether there's any chemical similarity among these species'  venoms (if so, desensitization to these other species could provide partial protection, I'd guess).  
> 
> I did check out the info on the NAPPC/PP website for gardeners, which had useful info on avoiding attracting bees/wasps, but nothing on repellents.  I imagine lots of people have similar questions.  I don't plan to change my planting of natives for pollinators, either at my house or the small public garden I manage, but I do need to be more careful.   And I'd be happy to be a "poster child" for someone w/a serious allergy to stinging hymenoptera who's still pollinator-friendly  - though if one of them kills me, that approach could backfire...  ;  )        (I'm in black-humor mode, having visited the allergist today and coming away pretty depressed.)
> 
> Thanks for passing this on, and I'll happily disseminate any info to my allergist and local nature centers, env'l groups, etc.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Robin Eisman
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