Anybody have any experience with allergic reactions to bee stings? I know we're supposed to treasure the little creatures for all their hard work, but after rushing to the emergency room recently, I've become scared to do any more gardening. Anybody know if insect repellent works for bees? Haven't determined if it's a particular type I'm allergic to. I never did have any reaction as a kid, but I know I got plenty of stings, going barefoot through our clover-laden lawn.

I first had a reaction several years ago when I got a sting at a carnival. I've read that yellow jackets are the only kind of bee that eat people-food, the ones hanging around garbage cans and food at picnics, etc. So I figured that's what I'm allergic to, but this time the stinger was stuck in my leg. I didn't think yellow jackets lost their stingers.

Any bee experts out there? 

I used to make traps out of a 2-liter soda bottle and place them strategically around the yard. All you have to do is cut the top 1/3 of the bottle off, invert it - imagine you're making a funnel - and you can staple it if you want - then put a few inches of something sweet in the bottom. Mountain Dew always seemed to work. Basically, you're trying to attract them and once they're in they can't get back out.

This would make more sense if I had a picture.