Latest news with #killerbees
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Killer bees' spreading and killing across the US. Are they in Georgia?
Africanized honey bees, often called "killer bees," are now found in 13 states and are slowly spreading northward, attacking people, livestock, and pets along the way. Recently, a Texas man mowing his property died after a bee attack and three people were taken to the hospital, and hikers in Arizona ran a mile to get away from an agitated hive. According to the Smithsonian, to the naked eye, killer bees are generally identical to typical honey bees. The main differentiator is the danger level. While both bees have the same venom level, Africanized bees are much more sensitive to potential threats and send out way more bees to attack. Killer bees were first imported to the Americas in 1956, bringing them to Brazil with the idea of cross-breeding them with local populations of honey bees to increase honey production. Since then, the Smithsonian says they have killed about 1,000 people. As mentioned before, it's the number of attackers that give Africanized bees their danger. University of Florida Professor of Honey Bee Research Jamie Ellis said "If I'm working around one of my European honey bee colonies and I knock on it with a hammer, it might send out five to ten individuals to see what's going on. They would follow me perhaps as far as my house and I might get stung I did the same thing with an Africanized colony, I might get 50 to 100 individuals who would follow me much farther and I'd get more stings. It's really an issue of scale." The Georgia Beekeepers Association says, as of 2022, yes and no. Africanized bees were found in Albany (Dougherty County) in 2010 and in Brainbridge Decatur County in 2011. It's also worth mentioning, in 2024, killer bees were detected in two northern Alabama counties neighboring Georgia, according to the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association. While they are not considered wide spread or established in Georgia, the GBA says all honey bee colonies should be treated with caution and respect. Whether or not a colony of bees is Africanized or not, if you see one on your property, do not try to take care of it on your own. Call a professional to handle it. If multiple bees start coming after you, experts say to just run away as fast as you can't. Don't jump in water and don't swat with your arms. You may also want to pull your shirt up around your nose and mouth to protect against stings that could cause swelling of your airway. If you have a big enough property and/or a hive doesn't present an immediate danger to people or pets, there is reason to leave it alone. Scientists who study bees say they hold a lot of promise for overall honey bee health because they're more pest and disease resistant and are very genetically diverse. That's important because honey bees play a critical role in agriculture and the environment and have been subject to large die-offs in the past two decades. Breeding and even gene manipulation could result in better – and gentler – bees. It can take more than 1,000 stings to actually kill someone. But, one sting can be very bothersome and could still cause health issues if you're over sensitive or allergic. Here are some tips from the American Academy of Dermatology: Remove the stinger. If the stinger remains in your skin, remove it by scraping over it with your fingernail or a piece of gauze. Never use tweezers to remove a stinger, as squeezing it can cause more venom to release into your skin. Wash the sting with soap and water. Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling. However, if the swelling moves to other parts of your body, such as your face or neck, go to the emergency room immediately, as you might be having an allergic reaction. Other signs of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, nausea, hives, or dizziness. Consider taking over-the-counter pain medication. Bee, wasp, and hornet stings are painful. Painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain. Always follow the directions on the label and use the correct dose. Elizabeth Weise of USA Today contributed to this article. Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: 'Killer bees' in Georgia? A look at their danger, benefits, history
CBS News
02-07-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Killer bees prompt response by Alabama officials as invasive swarms spotted across U.S.
Beekeepers in southeastern Alabama recently trapped a "feral swarm" of killer bees, according to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, the latest in a recent string of killer bee sightings across the U.S. Officials said the swarm was humanely euthanized to protect the state's honeybee populations, which, University of Georgia researchers note, can be threatened by this more aggressive bee subspecies. Killer bees, also called Africanized honeybees, are a notoriously dangerous breed known for their defensiveness, according to the Smithsonian Institution. Unlike most bees typically seen in the U.S., which are technically European honeybees, these killer bees became feared after attacking humans and animals in relatively large numbers. The Smithsonian writes in a description of killer bees on its website that the insects "have killed some 1,000 humans" since their introduction to the Americas in 1956, "with victims receiving ten times as many stings than from the European strain." In Alabama, the agricultural department said traps were set across a five-mile stretch of land near the site in Barbour County where beekeepers spotted the swarm. The department has also taken steps to establish targeted monitoring procedures in the area, to assess whether additional swarms are present. Officials said that was "a precautionary response," to protect pollinating honeybees as well as beekeepers. "There is no reason for public concern at this time, but we are treating this situation seriously," said Rick Pate, the commissioner of the agricultural department, in a statement. "Our team is actively collaborating with local beekeepers and entomology experts to ensure swift detection and appropriate response. Protecting both the health of our communities and Alabama's honeybee populations is our top priority." The department warned members of the public to avoid provoking any bee population suspected to contain killer bees, as they "may respond in greater numbers when disturbed" and "pursue perceived threats farther than European honeybees," potentially following them for up to a mile. In comparison, European honeybees have been known to stalk victims of an attack for up to a quarter of a mile. Alabama's discovery has followed a spate of killer bee sightings across the country. In the last three months alone, swarms in Texas attacked and killed one man, and led to three others being hospitalized after disturbing a colony, CBS News Miami reported. According to the news site AZ Family, a swarm chased a group of hikers for about a mile near the end of a trail in a Phoenix suburb, and each hiker required medical attention as a result. Killer bees have been spotted in 13 U.S. states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. South Florida has the highest number of them compared with any other state, according to CBS News Miami.
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Killer bees are spreading across the US – and are being drawn to northern states because of warming temps
Africanized honey bees, infamously known as 'killer bees,' are rapidly spreading across the United States, having already been confirmed in 13 states from California and Arizona to Florida, Georgia, and as far east as Alabama. These aggressive hybrids, originally bred in South America from East African and European honeybees, have been steadily migrating northward, fueled by climate change. Unlike their European cousins, Africanized bees are highly defensive, capable of launching massive swarm attacks and delivering thousands of stings within minutes. They've even been reported to chase victims for nearly a mile, sometimes following cars and trucks, and are even capable of stinging through standard beekeeping suits. The situation has turned deadly in recent months. A swarm killed a 75-year-old Texas man mowing his lawn last year, while other attacks have hospitalized people, pets, and animals, including horses. In 2022, a 20-year-old Ohio man was stung 20,000 times while trimming tree branches and survived only after doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. South Florida is a major hotspot for killer bees, reporting the densest populations and the highest number of incidents in the last quarter. Africanized bees have been found in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, but they have a harder time surviving these wetter climates. Experts warn that rising temperatures could push Africanized bees further north, especially in the western U.S., putting millions more Americans at risk by 2050. 'By 2050 or so, with increasing temperatures, we're going to see northward movement, mostly in the western half of the country,' Dr. Juliana Rangel, a bee expert in Texas who has been chased by the bees herself, told the Daily Mail. Experts also say that when disturbed by lawn equipment, loud noises, or even pedestrians, these bees will swarm in overwhelming numbers and continue striking long after most other bees would retreat . If you encounter a swarm, run away from the area immediately, cover your face, and seek shelter in a building or vehicle, as the bees usually remain outdoors. Although dangerous, Africanized bees are also more disease-resistant than European honey bees, prompting some researchers to explore whether their resilience might benefit broader pollination efforts.
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Thirteen states are invaded by terrifying killer bees that swarm by the hundreds and chase cars for miles
Terrifying killer bees are spreading northward in the US, researchers fear. The Africanized honey bee, normally found in southern Africa, is far more aggressive than the European honey bee, the most common in the US. Nicknamed the killer bee, the insects attack in 'clouds' and can sting victims thousands of times. They 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. Once on the loose, the bees can chase their target for up to a mile and experts say victims have little option other than to run. In the past three months, the bees have killed one man and three horses in Texas and hospitalized at least six people — including three tree-trimmers in Texas and three hikers in Arizona who had to run a mile from the 'biggest cloud of bees I have ever seen'. Arriving in the US in the 1990s after escaping from farms in Brazil, the bees are already present in 13 states — including Florida, Utah and California. 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.' And more of the US is at risk. A previous study found that the bees could easily advance into southeastern Oregon and the western Great Plains — attracted by the more arid climate similar to their native range. And researchers also fear that the bees could advance into the Southern Appalachian Mountains within the next few years. 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. While Africanized bees' venom is no more potent than the European honey bee — and the bee still dies after stinging — the aggressive species is far more likely to sting and much more likely to attack in large numbers. Swarms of the Africanized honey bees can sting someone thousands of times. In 2022, a 20-year-old man was reportedly stung 20,000 times and ingested 30 bees after he was attacked by a swarm while cutting tree branches near a nest. He was hospitalized but survived. The Africanized honey bee reached the US after spreading up from Brazil, where it was introduced in the 1950s in an attempt to boost honey production. It is now present in 13 US states: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. But colonies keep being detected further north, including in several more northerly Alabama counties last year and in previously in states like South Carolina and the Bay Area in California. The insects generally prefer arid or semi-arid conditions similar to their native areas, but avoid areas that have cold winters or high levels of rain. Comparing the two types of bees, Dr Jamie Ellis, an entomologist in Florida who studies the insects, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal: 'If I'm working around one of my European honey bee colonies and I knock on it with a hammer, it might send out five to 10 individuals to see what's going on. 'They would follow me perhaps as far as my house and I might get stung once. 'If I did the same thing with an Africanized colony, I might get 50 to 100 individuals who would follow me much farther and I'd get more stings. It's really an issue of scale.' Dr Rangel added that the bees are much more sensitive to sound, saying: 'You could be mowing a lawn a few houses away and just the vibrations will set them off. 'In Texas, every year there's at least four big [Africanized bee] attacks that make the news.' She added: 'They can pursue you in your vehicle for a mile. The only thing preventing them from killing you is the [bee suit]. It's like a cloud of bees that all wants to sting you. It's scary.' Officials in Tennessee warn people to avoid all wild colonies of bees and to report any that they find to their county for monitoring. If someone is attacked by the bees, officials in most states advise people to 'run away quickly'. The above map, published in 2020, shows the range of the bees and areas that have a suitable habitat for the species While running, they 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. The Africanized honey bee is a hybrid made by mixing the European honey bee with the East African lowland honey bee. The aim was to create a bee that produced more honey, but 26 swarms escaped quarantine in 1957 and have since spread through South America and into the US.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Killer bees' keep spreading (and killing) across the US
Africanized honey bees, often called "killer bees," are now found in 13 states and are slowly spreading northward, attacking people, livestock and pets along the way. In the last three months alone, a man mowing his property died after a bee attack, three people were taken to the hospital after tree trimmers disturbed a colony, hikers ran a mile to get away from an agitated hive and a woman and three horses were swarmed by bees spooked by a lawn mower. The horses later died from "thousands" of stings, their owner said. Scientists say the bees' temperament is a defense mechanism to ward off predators – and note that because honey bees die after stinging, they are sacrificing themselves to protect their colony. But to unsuspecting humans, killer bees sure seem aggressive, spiteful and terrifying. They've been known to follow their victims for up to a mile – even following cars and trucks – and can sting through regular beekeeping gear. In the attack on the Texas horses, owner Baillie Hillman said, "they didn't give up." As parts of the west become warmer and drier, it's only going to get worse as the bees' preferred climate moves northward. There's no national database of deaths related to bee stings, but a 2023 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that on average 72 people died a year from hornet, wasp and bee stings. "In Texas, every year there's at least four big (Africanized bee) attacks that make the news," said Juliana Rangel, a professor of apiculture (beekeeping) at Texas A&M University, where they're widespread in the wild. "Killer bees" first made headlines in the 1990s when they began to appear in the United States, spawning alarming news stories and a surge of horror movies such as Deadly Invasion, The Swarm, The Savage Bees. Today, people in the South and the Southwest are learning to live with them, but the danger remains, especially when the highly defensive bees first appear in an area or when people accidentally run into a colony. Africanized honey bees don't survive in areas with cold winters and don't like high levels of rain, making for natural cutoffs in areas where temperatures fall, Rangel said. However in the coming decades, climate change means the bees could potentially move into southeastern Oregon, the western Great Plains and the southern Appalachian mountains, according to research published in 2014. "By 2050 or so, with increasing temperatures, we're going to see northward movement, mostly in the Western half of the country," said Rangel. Africanized honey bees don't have more, or more potent, venom than Western honey bees. "The stings feel the same," said Rangel. What differentiates them is the numbers a colony sends out to attack. While each bee can only sting once before it dies, a colony of Africanized honey bees will send out proportionally more bees in a defensive response, leading to more stings. "If I'm working around one of my European honey bee colonies and I knock on it with a hammer, it might send out five to ten individuals to see what's going on. They would follow me perhaps as far as my house and I might get stung once," said Ellis. "If I did the same thing with an Africanized colony, I might get 50 to 100 individuals who would follow me much farther and I'd get more stings. It's really an issue of scale," he said. Africanized honey bees are also much more sensitive to potential threats. "You could be mowing a lawn a few houses away and just the vibrations will set them off," Rangel said. There are multiple reports of people cutting into colonies when trimming trees, clearing brush or doing landscaping. In some cases tree trimmers set off an attack merely by throwing a rope over a branch. In toxicology, researchers speak of the LD50, the lethal dose required to kill 50% of those exposed to it, said Rangel. For honeybee stings, it's calculated at about 9 stings per pound of weight. So half of people who weigh 150 pounds might die if they got 1,350 stings. That's unlikely with Western honey bees, but can happen with Africanized bees. In 2022, an Ohio man suffered 20,000 bee stings when cutting tree branches. He survived but only after being put in a medically-induced coma. At least 13 state have reported Africanized honeybees. In the south, southern Florida has the highest numbers. "From Tampa to Orlando to Daytona, south of that a large percentage of the feral bee population are of African decent. North of that we don't have much," said Ellis. Africanized bees have also been reported in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, though they don't seem to thrive in those wetter environments as much. The bees have found a natural home in the Southwest, in part because the landscape is much like the arid and semi-arid parts of Africa they're originally from. Feral colonies are common in southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and especially Texas. They've also been seen in southwest Arkansas, southern Utah and about two-thirds of Oklahoma, said Szalanski. There are around 20,000 species of bees on the planet and only 12 of them are honey bees. Of those, 11 are found in Asia and only one in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It is called Apis mellifera, the Western honey bee, said Jamie Ellis, a professor of honey bee research at the University of Florida. There are multiple subspecies of Apis mellifera. It was one of these, the East African lowland honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata), that was imported to Brazil in the 1950s. In the areas where East African lowland honey bees live, they have many predators so they've evolved to be more defensive, said Ellis. "They're not really aggressive, they're not just looking for a fight," he said. "They're just trying to communicate that, 'You are too close to us. We don't want you here – go away.'" That can feel pretty scary when they're coming after you, said Rangel. She's done research on bees in Belize, where people keep hives far from their homes and livestock and put on their protective beekeeping clothing in their trucks before getting out near a hive. "They can pursue you in your vehicle for a mile," she said "The only thing preventing them from killing you is the veil. It's like a cloud of bees that all want to sting you. It's scary." Africanized honeybees are a cross between Western honey bees, from Europe and the East African lowland honey bee. They first occurred in 1956, when a prominent Brazilian geneticist, Warwick Kerr, brought African bees to Brazil to hybridize them with Western honey bees from Europe, which didn't do well there. His plan was to breed bees that were better adapted to Brazil's climate while retaining the gentleness and high honey-producing traits of the Western honey bees. He didn't get the chance. A year later, 26 Africanized queen bees were accidentally released into a nearby forest, where they thrived, said Kirk Visscher, an emeritus professor of entomology at the University of California, Riverside. "The beekeeping industry in those areas is now far more vital than it was – they just have mean bees," he said. That hybrid between the two subspecies, called Africanized honey bees, began to make its way north, arriving in south Texas in 1990. "They spread a lot quicker than what people thought was possible. They never thought they could get from Brazil to Texas in a span of less than 40 years," said Allen Szalanski, a professor of entomology at the University of Arkansas. "But they did." The two bee subspecies are impossible to differentiate without either DNA analysis or careful observation of their wing vein patterns. It is their behavior that sets them apart. Most of the danger is from feral hives in the wild. Beekeepers carefully manage their hives to keep Africanized queens out. Because bees are so critical to agriculture, the movement of bees is regulated in many states. Most have a bee inspector to oversee the process. Currently a total of 38 states regulate the movement of honey bees within the United States and require a permit or health certificate to do so. Four states, Arizona, Kansas, North Dakota and Oregon, have no regulations on the movement of bees, according to research published in 2022. Another eight states have no regulations requiring permits or health certificates for the interstate movement of bees. Scientists who study bees emphasize that while Africanized honey bees are more defensive, they hold a lot of promise for overall honey bee health because they're more pest and disease resistant and are very genetically diverse. That's important because honey bees play a critical role in agriculture and the environment and have been subject to large die-offs in the past two decades. In 2017, one-third of the nation's hives perished. Breeding and even gene manipulation could result in better – and gentler – bees, said Ellis. "Although they have heightened defensive behaviors, science may be able to maximize their positive traits and minimize their negative traits," he said. Because of their highly defensive nature, if you encounter aggressive bees, the best response is to leave – fast. "Get away as quickly as possible. Don't jump in water, don't swat with your arms. Just run away as as fast as you can," said Ellis. "You might want to pull your shirt up around your nose and mouth to protect against stings that could cause swelling of your airway." In general, the biggest threats are to tethered or penned livestock and pets that can't get away as well as humans using heavy equipment who accidentally get too close to a hive without being able to hear the angry buzzing of the bees. Once you've evacuated the area, call for professional help. "If you're in a rural area, it's very likely these bees have been Africanized," said Rangel. Nobody should try to deal with a colony on their own "just to save a few bucks," she said. "You don't want to mess with them." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Killer bees' spreading across US leave a trail of death and terror
