The other evening as my wife and I sat on the patio enjoying the twilight, our quiet conversation was intruded on by an increasingly loud buzzing. We looked up just in time to see a swarm of bees heading straight toward us and beat a hasty retreat into the safety of the house. Fortunately the bees passed on by and disappeared into the sunset. That experience and a recent article about Africanized bees in the Arizona Daily Star was the inspiration for a surfing expedition on the World Wide Web for more information about Africanized honey bees. The Africanized Honey Bee Home Page at the Department of Agricultural Communications, Texas A & M University (http://128.194.30.1/agcom/news/hc/a hb/ahbhome.htm) provides several excellent articles on Africanized bees. Here is an edited summary of some of that information. The Africanized honey bee, popularly known as the "killer bee," has been migrating northward from South America since the 1950's and has now moved into Southern Arizona. This insect looks just like a domestic honey bee, but it is not nearly as good-natured and will aggressively defend its home. The bee's "killer" reputation is greatly exaggerated, but it does have some basis in fact. In isolated instances, people and animals have been stung to death. Here are a few MYTHS and FACTS about the Africanized honey bee that everyone should know.
MYTH: Africanized bees are more dangerous when they are swarming, that is, when they appear as a large cluster of insects searching for a new home.
FACT: Africanized bees do swarm more often than domestic bees, but they are actually less dangerous at that time because they do not have a nest to protect. However, if you encounter a swarm, move away slowly and don't bother the bees. If the swarm is near people or confined animals, contact authorities for removal.
MYTH: Africanized honey bees are "wild" bees and will not live in a manmade hive.
FACT: Africanized honey bees will live any place a domestic bee will live, including a manmade hive. But Africanized bees are less selective about nesting sites and will live in places domestic bees usually would not live, including:
* Holes in the ground, water meter boxes, and drainage pipes.
* Holes or cracks in building walls and holes in trees.
* Underneath mobile homes.
* Culverts or drainage pipes.
* flower pots
* Old tires
* Bird houses
* Barns or sheds
* Woodpiles
* Wooden spools sometimes used as playground equipment.
MYTH: Africanized honey bees are larger than domestic bees and therefore easy to identify.
FACT: Africanized bees look like any other honeybee to the naked eye. Though they are slightly smaller than domestic bees, only scientists in specially equipped labs can identify the bees.
MYTH: Africanized honey bees are a purebred race of bees from Africa.
FACT: Africanized bees are actually crosses between African bees and European (domestic) bees. Unfortunately, the aggressiveness of the African ancestors is a dominant trait in the offering.
MYTH: Africanized bees are called "killer bees" because a single sting can kill you.
FACT: "Killer bee" is a misnomer popularized by Hollywood and the media A single sting from an Africanized bee actually has slightly less venom than that of a domestic (European) honey bee. For most people, a single bee sting is painful, but not life-threatening. However, if you are allergic to honey bee stings (less than one person in 100 is), a single sting from either bee - Africanized or domestic - could cause a severe allergic reaction. If you are allergic, you should carry a bee sting kit.
MYTH: Africanized bees hunt people down and kill them.
FACT: Africanized bees do not seek out victims. If you go near their hive, however, the bees will defend it vigorously.
MYTH: By swatting them away from your face, you can prevent most bees from stinging you.
FACT: Swatting is probably the worst thing you can do if bees are attacking. When a bee's body is crushed by swatting, it produces an odor that incites bees to attack in greater numbers. The best thing to do is to run away fast and seek cover in a house, car or tall brush or trees.
MYTH: Africanized bees fly faster than domestic bees, making it more difficult to escape by running. FACT: All bees fly about 12 to 15 miles per hour. However, Africanized bees may chase a person farther than will a domestic bee. A domestic bee may chase you for 50 yards, but an Africanized bee may chase you for 100 to 150 yards.
MYTH: Africanized bees are more dangerous because, unlike domestic bees, they can sting you repeatedly.
FACT: All honeybees can sting only once. A portion of the bee's abdomen remains with the stinger when she flies away, and she dies soon afterward. Knowing how to avoid honey bees, especially the extremely defensive Africanized honey bees, is the best defense.