by Victoria O'Sullivan

Created on: May 18, 2009

Africanized honey bees, more commonly known as killer bees, came into existence back in 1957 when 26 Tanzian (South African) queen bees were accidentally released from a compound where Brazilian scientists were busy trying to create a more efficient breed of bee to populate South America. The Tanzian queens mated with European bees they came into contact with, such as the Italian honey bee, and thus a new breed was born. Because of their greater usefulness in both producing honey as well as pollinating flowers, they quickly became a favorite amongst European bee keepers, but there were and continue to be drawbacks.

For one thing, killer bees are easily startled and thus more likely to swarm. They can sense vibrations from human or animal activity up to 50 feet away. Power equipment can disturb a nest from up to 100 feet away. For this reason, people are often caught off guard by attacks. There have also been instances when an ill-fated choice of cologne or shiny jewelry has brought on an attack. When the hive detects a perceived threat, killer bees will attack in mass, sending out as many as 500 warrior bees to defend the colony. The hive will remain on high alert for up to 24 hours thereafter.

If you're unfortunate enough to inadvertently provoke an attack, please be aware that a swarm of killer bees will give chase over a distance of up to 1100 feet. An able bodied person can outrun the swarm, but your best bet is to retreat inside a nearby vehicle or building. Don't jump into a body of water; the bees are sure to be waiting for you when you surface. If shelter is not readily available and you're forced to run, try not to swat at the bees, as this will only reinforce their perception of you as a threat, and they're sure to redouble their efforts.

If you're stung by a killer bee, be aware that the sting site has been tagged by a potent pheromone, iso-pentyl acetate, that, acting as a bee alarm, will attract more bees to you. Once embedded, the stinger will continue to release bee venom into the wound, so you should pull out the stinger as soon as possible. If you are stung fifteen of more times seek immediate medical attention. If you're allergic, one sting is all it takes to initiate an anaphylactic response.

In warm weather areas where killer bees are known to thrive (Brazil, Northern Argentina, South and Central America, Trinidad, Mexico, Arizona, etc) it is recommended that you check your home and surrounding area at least once a month for nests. Killer bees have been found in crawl spaces, attics, trash cans, old tires, etc. There's a good chance of them making your home their home. If you discover a nest, it's better to call the authorities for removal than trying to do it yourself.

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