Can You Still Be Stung By a Dead Bee?

(KMDL-FM) Let's see, according to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles, South Louisiana is due for a few days of spring before we get our next taste of winter temperatures on Monday. So it is entirely possible that you could encounter a honey bee or some other stinging insect over the next 48 hours. It's also possible that the creature could be dead, but the question remains: Can a dead bee still sting you?

Granted, here in Louisiana, we are used to the "dead" doing amazing things like starring in vampire movies and voting for people that no one in their right mind would elect. We also have our share of haunted places.

READ MORE: Photo Shows "Unexplained Figure" at Louisiana Haunted House

But this article isn't about dead Civil War soldiers, as you might see at The Myrtles; this is more about that dead bee you might see on the sidewalk where your kid is walking barefoot or on the deck around your pool.

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Can You Be Stung By a Dead Bee or Wasp?

Before we reveal the answer, what do you think? Can you be stung by a dead bee? What about a wasp? Are there any other creatures that can do you harm from beyond the grave? Let's see what the answers are.

Yes, you can be stung by a dead honey bee. The reason is that the stinger, complete with the venom sac and the muscles that control it operate involuntarily. So by simply stepping on the dead bee's body, you can activate an involuntary response that can cause you pain and suffering.

READ MORE: Rid Your Patio of Wasps, Flies, and Mosquitoes with No Poison Needed

The same scenario holds for wasps. So don't step on the dead body of one of those either. Among the other potentially painful creatures that you should avoid even when they are dead, include jellyfish, pufferfish, cane toads, cone snails, poison dart frogs, stonefish, and elk.

You're probably wondering how elk made this list. Well, the elk don't really kill you by you touching them; it's more when you touch them in a moving car at 55 mph. Even a dead elk can bash a Bronco, crash a Camry, or tear up a Tundra.

So, what have we learned? Don't step on bees and don't crash into elk. And be really careful when you're driving on these stretches of roadway.