Why do mosquito bites merely itch while bee stings are painful?

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
1

Histamine is not a protein.

2

And here’s a link to the report:

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmosquitobee.html

3

Isn’t histamine an amine? If so, then it could be referred to as part of a protein, I suppose. :smiley:

Anyway, for those wanting to view the Cecil column referenced in this report, the link is wrong. It should be:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_206.html

4

Furthering Zelmph(!)'s note: It’s made from the amino acid S-histidine and histamine molecules are incorporated into protein complexes in cells for storage purposes. So virtually, but not quite, a protein (if you want to be really fussy).