By Keith S. Delaplane
University of
Georgia
Africanized bees probably won’t delay their arrival in Georgia
much longer. But don’t panic. Don’t think of them as “killer
bees” but as one more snake or fire ant nest to think about when
you’re outdoors.
East of the Mississippi River, beekeepers enjoyed an unexpectedly
long delay in the arrival of these intruders. Introduced into
Brazil in the 1950s, Africanized bees have been moving slowly
north ever since.
They arrived in the United States in October 1990. For the next
15 years, their range was limited largely to the Southwestern
states, California and southern Nevada.
Coming soon
Unfortunately, the reprieve seems near an end in the Southeast.
Established populations of Africanized bees were formally
announced in Florida last summer. It’s prudent for Georgia
beekeepers and property owners to learn about this new invader
now, before it arrives in our state.
Compared to the familiar honeybee established here centuries ago
by European settlers, the African variety is much more defensive.
Large numbers of them sometimes sting people and livestock with
little provocation.
Because of this behavior, the media widely calls these insects
“killer bees.” Despite the alarm that surrounds their arrival,
though, Africanized bees don’t cause widespread and permanent
chaos. Dramatic stinging incidents do happen. But for most
people, the quality of life is unaffected.
Don’t panic
If and when Africanized bees reach your area, don’t panic.
However, just as you should look out for fire ants and poisonous
snakes, stay alert for wild bee colonies when you’re outdoors.
Remember these points:
- Never knowingly approach an occupied bee nest. During
daylight hours, bees can be seen flying to and from their
entrance. - Don’t disturb a swarm of bees. Call a professional bee
removal service or your county University of Georgia Cooperative
Extension agent for help in removing a swarm. - Never climb a tree, kick a log or stump or move trash until
you first check to see whether bees are flying in and out. - Be sure the walls of your house and outbuildings don’t have
cracks or holes where a colony of bees could enter and form a
nest. - Keep an escape route in mind. Never crawl into an enclosed
place from which you can’t quickly exit. - Operators of open-cab tractors are especially at risk from
hidden in-ground colonies. Keeping a beekeeper’s veil on hand is
a good safety precaution.
If you are attacked, run away or get indoors as fast as possible.
Never stand in one spot and swat. This only aggravates bees
further and increases the number of stings you may get.
When you run, the bees may follow you for hundreds of yards. But
most people can run faster than bees can fly. Don’t stop running
to try to hide under water or anything else or a crevice, because
bees are likely to find you and inflict many stings.
The single most important thing is to get away from the colony.
After you’ve safely escaped the bees, remove the stingers from
your skin by scraping or brushing them out. A single Africanized
bee’s sting is no more toxic than a European bee’s. (In fact,
it’s a little less.)
The difference is a matter of dose. Instead of a dozen or so
stings, victims of Africanized bees can sustain stings in the
hundreds.
Most people can tolerate 15 to 25 stings without requiring
special medical treatment. It’s normal to have pain, redness and
swelling at a sting site, and this isn’t an allergic reaction.
However, if you have a history of systemic allergic reactions
(fainting, trouble breathing), always carry an emergency kit of
injectable epinephrine. If you’re stung, use it quickly and then
immediately see a physician.
Anyone who gets more than 25 stings seek medical help for
possible delayed systemic complications.
(Keith Delaplane is a professor of entomology and a
Cooperative Extension bee specialist with the University of
Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
