Africanized honey bees, also known by their menacing “killer bees” moniker, have been spreading across the United States. The insect species, which first arrived in America in 1990, has been found in 13 states in the South and Southwest, and is reportedly heading north as the weather warms up. In the past three months alone, killer bee swarms have led to the death of a Texas man mowing his lawn and the hospitalization of three tree trimmers. Three horses also died from thousands of bee stings. 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. Africanized honey bees, which were bred by humans in the 1950s, are an aggressive species. They have been known to chase humans, animals, and motor vehicles for up to a mile and can sting through the standard protective clothing that beekeepers wear. Yet, some scientists hope that Africanized honey bees, which are more disease- and pest-resistant than many of their fellow bee species, can help sustain dying bee populations. However, if you encounter a killer bee swarm, they suggest running—fast.
Read it at USA Today
