Horrifying 'killer bees' spreading across 13 US states and can sting thousands of times in short period
Africanized honey bees
, also known by their menacing 'killer bees' moniker, are spreading northward in the US, researchers fear. The "killer bee", commonly found in South Africa, is far more aggressive than the European honey bee, the most common in the US, reports Daily Mail.
Rather than isolated attacks, the
killer bees
swarm in vast numbers and can sting victims thousands of times in a short period. The insect species, which first arrived in America in 1990, has been found in 13 states in the South and Southwest, and are reportedly heading north as the weather warms up.
ALSO READ:
Thomas Fugate's appointment amid Iran tensions triggers controversy: MSNBC's Rachel Maddow brutally trolls Trump's pick
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it.
Panzer.Quest
Play Game
Undo
Swarms of killer bees spread in America
The 'killer bees' attack when their hive is disturbed or in response to loud noises, such as a tree-trimmer or lawn-mower — even when it is a few blocks away. The bees can chase their target for up to a mile and experts say victims have little option other than to run, as per the Daily Mail report.
Killer bee swarms have led to the death of a Texas man mowing his lawn and the hospitalization of three tree trimmers in the past three months. London's Natural History Museum estimates that it would take approximately 1,000 stings to kill an adult human, but Africanized bees attack in swarms far greater. Some reports have counted as many as 300,000 to 800,000 bees in a single swarm.
Live Events
But experts now fear that warmer temperatures will allow the deadly insects to advance further north up the east and west coasts — putting tens of millions more Americans at risk. Dr Juliana Rangel, a bee expert in Texas who has been chased by the bees herself, warned: "By 2050 or so, with increasing temperatures, we're going to see northward movement, mostly in the western half of the country."
ALSO READ:
As World War III fears surge, Putin announces big move amid Israel-Iran conflict. Check details
The bee is visually similar to the European honey bee, a docile and familiar bee in the US, but is much more aggressive. Bee stings contain the toxin melittin, which can cause cells to burst and trigger massive inflammation in large quantities, potentially leading to organ failure and death.
The Africanized killer honey bee reached the United States after spreading up from Brazil, where it was introduced in the 1950s in an attempt to boost honey production. At present, it is in 13 US states: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
What separates them from other honey bees is their mode of attack. A colony of Africanized honey bees sends out far more bees in a defensive response, which leads to more stings on the victim. They are also more sensitive than standard honey bees to potential threats.
An Ohio man was stung 20,000 times in 2022 while trimming tree branches. He survived only after being put into a medically-induced coma.
ALSO READ:
Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez has an unusual request for the guests ahead of their high-profile wedding
How can you protect yourself?
If someone is attacked by the bees, officials in most states advise people to 'run away quickly'. While running, officials say people should pull their shirt up over their head to protect the face, but make sure this doesn't slow their progress.
Someone should only stop running when they reach closed shelter like a building or vehicle. It is likely that some bees will enter with them, experts say, but most will be locked outside. People are advised not to swat the bees or flail their arms, because this could antagonize them and lead to a worse attack.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
10 fascinating mammals that are small enough to fit on your palm
When people usually talk about wildlife, the focus is on the big names– elephants, tigers, and whales. They're hard to miss, and they often take centre stage in conservation stories. But not every animal that matters is massive. There are mammals out there that most people don't even notice. They're hidden in trees, deserts, grass, and even underground– so small, some can fit on a fingertip or weigh less than a coin. They might be tiny, but they're not insignificant. These creatures help control insect populations, pollinate plants, and survive in places where many others can't. Here's a look at ten of the smallest mammals on Earth– and why they deserve a closer look. Etruscan shrew The Etruscan shrew weighs less than 2 grams– lighter than a paperclip. It lives in parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and it's almost always in motion. Its metabolism is so fast that going without food for even a short time can be dangerous. To survive, it needs to keep eating constantly, mostly insects, just to stay alive. Bumblebee bat The bumblebee bat– also called Kitti's hog-nosed bat– is one of the smallest mammals in the world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It's roughly the size of a bumblebee, which is where it gets its name. These bats are found in limestone caves across Thailand and Myanmar. They're quick, quiet, and surprisingly agile in the air. Long-tailed planigale At first glance, you might mistake this marsupial for an insect– it's that small. Native to northern Australia, it measures just a few centimetres long. Its head is flat enough to let it slide between cracks in dry soil as it hunts. Pygmy jerboa With a round body and long legs, the pygmy jerboa looks like a mini kangaroo on fast-forward. It hops across the desert, avoids predators using its speed, and rarely needs to drink water, getting what it needs from seeds and desert plants. Pygmy possum Don't let its tiny size fool you. Weighing just around 10 grams, this Australian native is an agile climber and an important pollinator. It survives tough winters by slowing down its system through torpor. During warmer months, it snacks on nectar, fruits, and insects. Northern pygmy mouse This rodent lives in Mexico's grasslands and weighs just about 5 grams. It's small, shy, and tends to stick close to home. It builds its own burrows and hides in tall grass, feeding on seeds and tiny insects. American shrew mole Found in the western U.S., this mole is smaller than your average mouse and spends most of its life underground. It uses its snout and whiskers like sensors, feeling its way through the dark. It's active day and night, constantly foraging below the surface. Mouse lemur Native to Madagascar, mouse lemurs are the smallest primates in the world, usually weighing under 35 grams. They're nocturnal and tree-dwelling, using their big eyes to see in the dark. Sadly, many species are threatened by deforestation. Least weasel This slender predator weighs as little as 25 grams but is quick, clever, and not afraid to take down larger prey. Its long body lets it slip into tight places to hunt rodents. In snowy areas, it changes to a white coat– perfect camouflage. African pygmy hedgehog At around 250 grams, this is one of the smallest hedgehogs on Earth. Native to Africa, it's known for its quiet, solitary habits. When it feels threatened, it curls into a spiky ball. These days, it's also become a popular pet for people around the world.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Researchers bring 2,500-year-old skulls from Tamil Nadu into shape, reconstruct faces
Archeologists and carbon dat9ing had confirmed one of the old civilizations at Keeladi, 12km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, in 6th century BCE. Now, the paces of at least two men who walked on the planet 2,500 years ago have been reconstructed, TOI reported. The researchers at Madurai Kamraj University describe the facial features as South Indian with traces of ancestral West Eurasian (Iranian) hunter-gatherers and ancestral Austro-Asiatic people. The research was conducted with the help of Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. The skulls were found at Kondagai, a burial site around 800m from the main excavation site. Further DNA studies are needed to pinpoint the ancestry based on genetics, the researchers added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now 'We used a computer-assisted 3D facial reconstruction system to rebuild the facial musculature and estimate facial features following anatomical and anthropometrical standards,' said Professor Caroline Wilkinson, director of Face Lab, Liverpool John Moores University, UK. The lower halves of the faces were more guesstimate; reconstruction of the upper halves was more accurate. 'As the lower jaws of the skulls were missing, we used orthodontic standards to estimate the shapes of the mandibles from cranial measurements and planes,' Prof Wilkinson told TOI. The facial reconstruction was done using forensic guidelines created from the study of clinical images of living people. Following the CT scan images of the skulls, the researchers estimated the tissue depth at various points of the skulls following published data of modern south Indians. Live Events They then used digital sculpting to recreate muscle, fat and skin while the placement and size of facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) were estimated based on the skulls' characteristics and anatomical relationships. The colours and texture to the skin, hair and eyes were assigned using a photographic database. 'It is 80% science and 20% art,' said professor G Kumaresan, department of genetics, Madurai Kamaraj University , which scanned and sent images of the skulls to Liverpool. He said the reconstructed faces, along with DNA data, will help trace the ancestry of Tamils who lived in the Sangam age. In May, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) asked its archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna, who unearthed the Sangam age brick structure at Keeladi in 2015-16 and dated the site to 8th century BCE, to revise his report quoting unnamed experts who said it could be no older than the 3rd century BCE. The site has been at a tussle between the Centre and the state. The Tamil Nadu state archaeology department took over the excavation from ASI in 2018 following a court order. IT has since retrieved 29 radiocarbon dates between 6th century BCE and 2nd century CE at Keeladi. Researchers from Madurai Kamaraj University are analysing DNA from the Kondagai urns in collaboration with the department of genetics at Harvard University in the US. 'Work is in progress to obtain a large number of DNA markers and compare them with global reference populations to understand the routes of migration and admixture of the ancient inhabitants of Kondagai and Keeladi,' Kumaresan said. Most of the skeletons found at the burial ground were of people aged around 50 years, researchers said. 'There are many criteria such as dental wear patterns, expression of sutural lines, presence of arthritic lesions and general size of the bone that can tell us about age,' said anthropologist Veena Mushrif Tripathy from Deccan College in Pune. She studied the bone remains at Kondagai and Kodumanal. 'The stature estimation is feasible for only 11 skeleton remains at Kondagai. Though it is insufficient to measure the height of the entire Kondagai population, the average height of males was 170.82cm (5ft 7') while females was 157.74 cm (5ft 2'), which is comparable to Kodumanal where stature estimation was conducted on five skeletal remains,' she added. Researchers identify the sex of the skeleton remains based on pelvic bone and skull morphology. 'Though reconstructing faces is common throughout the world, in South India, we have attempted it for the first time at Keeladi,' said archaeologist K Rajan, advisor to the Tamil Nadu department of archaeology.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Revealed: Faces of Keeladi men; 3D recon by UK lab and researchers brings 2,500-year-old skulls from Tamil Nadu into shape
FIRST LOOK: These faces are predominantly south Indian with a touch of West Eurasian and Austro-Asiatic characteristics A rchaeological excavations and carbon dating point to one of the oldest civilizations thriving at Keeladi, 12km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, in 6th century BCE. Now, they've put faces to at least two men who walked this earth some 2,500 years ago. South Indian with traces of ancestral West Eurasian (Iranian) hunter-gatherers and ancestral Austro-Asiatic people — that's how researchers at Madurai Kamaraj University describe the facial features reconstructed on two skulls with help from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. The skulls were found at Kondagai, a burial site around 800m from the main excavation site. Further DNA studies are needed to pinpoint the ancestry based on genetics, they say. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai 'We used a computer-assisted 3D facial reconstruction system to rebuild the facial musculature and estimate facial features following anatomical and anthropometrical standards,' said Professor Caroline Wilkinson, director of Face Lab, Liverpool John Moores University, UK. The lower halves of the faces were more guesstimate; reconstruction of the upper halves was more accurate. 'As the lower jaws of the skulls were missing, we used orthodontic standards to estimate the shapes of the mandibles from cranial measurements and planes,' said Prof Wilkinson. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 境界のないゲームを発見する BuzzDaily Winners Undo Researchers used forensic guidelines for facial reconstruction created from the study of clinical images of living people. After obtaining CT scanned images of the skulls from Kondagai, they estimated the tissue depth at various points of the skulls following published data of modern south Indians. 'It is 80% science and 20% art' They used digital sculpting to recreate muscle, fat and skin while the placement and size of facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) were estimated based on the skulls' characteristics and anatomical relationships. Using a photographic database, researchers assigned colours and textures for the skin, hair and eyes. 'It is 80% science and 20% art,' said professor G Kumaresan, department of genetics, Madurai Kamaraj University, which scanned and sent images of the skulls to Liverpool. He said the reconstructed faces, along with DNA data, will help trace the ancestry of Tamils who lived in the Sangam age. Keeladi has been at the centre of a tussle between the Union and state govts over its antiquity. Last month, the Archaeological Survey of India asked its archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna, who unearthed the Sangam age brick structure at Keeladi in 2015-16 and dated the site to 8th century BCE, to revise his report quoting unnamed experts who said it could be no older than the 3rd century BCE. The Tamil Nadu state archaeology department, which took over the excavation from ASI in 2018 after the courts intervened, has since obtained 29 radiocarbon dates between 6th century BCE and 2nd century CE at Keeladi. Researchers from Madurai Kamaraj University are analysing DNA from the Kondagai urns in collaboration with the department of genetics at Harvard University in the US. 'Work is in progress to obtain a large number of DNA markers and compare them with global reference populations to understand the routes of migration and admixture of the ancient inhabitants of Kondagai and Keeladi,' Kumaresan said. After studying the contents of the burial urns excavated from Kondagai, researchers estimated that most of the skeletal remains were of people aged around 50 years. 'There are many criteria such as dental wear patterns, expression of sutural lines, presence of arthritic lesions and general size of the bone that can tell us about age,' said anthropologist Veena Mushrif Tripathy from Deccan College in Pune. She studied the bone remains at Kondagai and Kodumanal. 'The stature estimation is feasible for only 11 skeleton remains at Kondagai. Though it is insufficient to measure the height of the entire Kondagai population, the average height of males was 170.82cm (5ft 7') while females was 157.74 cm (5ft 2'), which is comparable to Kodumanal where stature estimation was conducted on five skeletal remains,' she added. Researchers identify the sex of the skeleton remains based on pelvic bone and skull morphology. 'Though reconstructing faces is common throughout the world, in South India, we have attempted it for the first time at Keeladi,' said archaeologist K Rajan, advisor to the Tamil Nadu department of archaeology.
