Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of insects and comprises over 130,000 species, including different types of bees, wasps, hornets and ants, among others.
Allergic reactions are most often due to wasp and bee stings. Their venom can cause allergic reactions resulting in a large area of the skin around the bite or sting becoming swollen, red or painful. In severe cases, an allergy may trigger a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Signs and symptoms of this are skin rash, light-headedness, nausea and vomiting, rapid, weak pulse, drop in blood pressure, severe shortness of breath and/or loss of consciousness.