Killer Bees: Africanized Honey Bees
Common Questions:
- How can I avoid an encounter with unfriendly Africanized honey bees?
- How can I reduce the chance Africanized honey bees will attack me if they are around me?
- How can I escape an attack if I am attacked by Africanized honey bees?
- Facts about Africanized honey bees
How can I escape an attack by Africanized Honey Bees?
Obviously, it is best to avoid contact with Africanized Honey Bees. But if contact becomes unavoidable, it is important to know what to do.
Bees target the head, and nearly all those who suffer serious stinging incidents with Africanized Bees are overcome by stings to the head and face.
The best method of escaping a bee attack is to cover your head and run for shelter.
Any covering for your body, especially for your head and face, will help you escape. A small handkerchief or mosquito net device that fits over the head could easily be carried in a pocket.
If you do not have these, grab a blanket, coat, towel, anything that will give you momentary relief while you look for an avenue of escape.
If you have nothing else, pull your shirt up over your face. The stings you may get on your chest and abdomen are far less serious than those to the facial area.
- If one or two bees start agressively bumping you, pay attention.
- Try to find shelter as soon as possible. Take refuge in a house, tent or a car with the windows and doors closed.
- DO NOT JUMP INTO WATER! Bees will wait for you to come up for air. They have been discouraged by water from a spraying hose, however. Spray water from the hose onto yourself and overhead. If you can get into a shower that will help as well.
- Once you are away from the bees, evaluate the situation. If you have been stung more than 15 times, or if you are having any symptoms other than local pain and swelling, seek medical attention immediately. Ice has been said to help with the swelling.
- If you see someone else being stung or think others are in danger, call 911 immediately.
- Remove stingers as soon as possible to lessen the amount of venom entering the body. Scrape stingers off the skin with a blunt instrument or plastic card. Do not remove bee stingers with fingers or tweezers – this only forces toxins into the victim’s body.
Have you had a problem with killer bees? -If so, post your story as a comment to this article.
About Lynn Bremner
We have many bees drinking water out of our dog and ‘critter water’ supplies here the last week or so, usually starting about 8-9 in the morning and continuing until dusk. . They are non-aggressive, and seem to go back immediately to the direction of their hive after drinking. I like them, but was concerned at first sight. Now they are like little honey-making friends that visit harmlessly every day. So far it’s fun, but I stay calm but alert when I watch them. Thanks for the good article.