Fear of bees

The fear of bees, also known as apiophobia, apiphobia or melissophobia, is a specific phobia triggered by the presence or apprehension of bees. It is a variation of entomophobia, the fear of insects, and it arises primarily from a fear of bee stings. It often coincides with a fear of wasps, another stinging insect, and the two are sometimes conflated by people with bee phobias. The phobia can affect quality of life through anxiety around outdoor activities, and people who have it may experience panic on seeing a bee. Exposure therapy is an effective treatment. A fear of bees in people who risk life-threatening reactions to stings is considered a rational fear rather than a phobia. The record here is descriptive and is not medical advice.