Hyménoptères d'Europe et du bassin méditerranéen. Aperçu de la classification des espèces à aiguillon ; facteurs de risque

Among the hymenoptera, only the aculeate taxa are able to inflict bites by means of their venomous stingers. The diversity of this group in Europe will be reviewed briefly, focussing on families classically known for their ability to induce allergic reactions (the social insects: apideae, vespidea, formicidea), and a few comments will also be made about members of the several thousand less frequently encountered non-social families that humans come in contact with accidently. It is indeed highly likely that certain atypical reactions or those apparently unrelated to known venoms are caused by solitary hymenoptera encountered by chance during various experiences in the countryside as well as in abundantly inhabited areas.