Bees, wasps and hornets have been jabbing their rear ends into us since time immemorial: an Egyptian pharaoh living around 2000BC had the ignominy of suffering the first recorded death by wasp sting.   An unfortunate few are hypersensitive to "hymenoptera envenomation" and generally have to keep antihistamines and adrenaline shots near their persons at all times. Even if you're not that badly affected, spare a thought for New Zealander Chris Robinson who had to endure 12 hours worth of stinging after his truck crashed into 40 hives. Now that's painful. DP

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