could these said "bees" really, in fact, be wasps?

I personally love bees and hate to think they're the cause of all this pain. They normally don't sting unless they are trying to defend their hive as they'll die, whereas a wasp will pretty much sting for the sake of stinging.

One way to tell if you've truly been stung by a bee, they'll leave behind a venom sac. Don't try to grab it with your fingers as that will pump more venom in you. Instead, take a straight edge like a credit card and take the edge to it to "pull out" the sac. If there was nothing there, then it was a wasp sting.

I woke up this morning scratching my elbow. Turns out I was pretty much mauled by a mosquito or two, had at least 4 bumps. I found this thing called "Inflam-eze" which contain things like "oil of pain root, karabash, sage, rosemary, and oregano". Smells really herbal-y but it really took the itch out, haven't felt itchy all day.