Case of Bee Sting Caused by Xylocopa tranquebarorum

Abstract

A 74-year-old woman was stung on the fingers by a bee after handling a bamboo broom. The pain subsided in about 30minutes and her general condition was not affected. The day after the bee sting, she visited our department with slight erythema on her fingers. She brought the bee with her, and it was identified as a female Xylocopa tranquebarorum. Blood tests at the initial visit showed honeybee-specific IgE at class 0; however, one month later, it had increased to class 2, suggesting that the sting stimulated honeybee-specific IgE production. X. tranquebarorum is a non-native bee that nests in dead bamboo. This bee has been expanding its distribution in Japan in recent years and is widely distributed from the Kanto to Chugoku regions, centering on the Tokai and Kinki regions, and can be found in urban areas. It is necessary to be careful when touching bamboo products, as stings by X. tranquebarorum can cause anaphylaxis. Skin Research, 24 : 192-197, 2025