Bees in Society

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Bee Stings

Knowing how to avoid honey bees, especially the extremely defensive Africanized honey bees, is the best defense. But if you encounter attacking bees and get stung, here are some guidelines.

FACT or FICTION? Africanized bees are called 'killer bees' because a single sting can kill you.

FICTION. 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.

FACT or FICTION? Africanized bees hunt people down and kill them.

FICTION. Africanized bees do not seek out victims. If you go near their hive, however, the bees will defend it vigorously.

FACT or FICTION? Swatting bees is the worst thing you can do if bees are attacking you.

FACT. It is a myth that by swatting them away from your face, you can prevent most bees from stinging you. When a bee's body is crushed by swatting, it produces an odor that incites other bees to attack in greater numbers. The best thing to do is to run away fast and seek cover in a house, car, tall brush, or trees.

FACT or FICTION? Africanized bees fly faster than domestic bees, making it more difficult to escape by running.

MYTH. 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.

FACT or FICTION? Honey bees can sting people only once.

FACT. It is a myth that Africanized bees are more dangerous because, unlike domestic bees, they can sting you repeatedly. A portion of the bee's abdomen remains in the skin of humans (and most animals) with the stinger when she flies away, and she dies soon afterward. Honey bees can sting only other insects repeatedly -- and still live.

Other Bee Sting Facts

Everybody reacts in some way to stings. Most swell around the stung area. That's NOT the same as a systemic allergy.
Less than 1 percent of the population has a systemic allergy to bee stings.
Symptoms of a systemic allergy, obvious within 20 minutes of the sting, may include swelling of tongue or throat, hives, dizziness or difficulty with breathing, loss of consciousness.
For a normal, healthy person to receive a deadly dose of bee venom, it would take about 10 stings for each pound of body weight, or 1,500 stings at once for a 150-pound person.
Because such a small portion of the population is allergic, doctors don't recommend that everyone have an allergy test, but you can if you want to make sure.
A honey bee only stings once, then it dies.
Honey bees are attracted to hair and dark colors.
Regular honey bees will chase you about half the length of a football field. Africanized honey bees may pursue you three times that far.
Venom content is the same in all honey bees, but the Africanized honey bees have about 27 percent less than European honey bees.

Remove stinger quickly.
Remove stingers in a sideways motion with a fingernail, knife blade, credit card or similar material.
Seek medical attention if the person shows signs of a systemic allergy or if swelling extends beyond two joints (if you are stung on the finger and the swelling extends past the wrist and elbow).
If you are allergic, always carry a bee sting kit prescribed by your doctor.
Ice packs may reduce swelling.
A sting-kill ointment may reduce pain.

Do Not

Don't let stingers remain in the skin, because venom can continue to pump into the body for up to 10 minutes.
Don't tweeze or pinch stingers when removing. That will squirt more venom into the body.
Don't cut the skin, try to suck venom out or use a meat tenderizer on the wound. That could lead to infection.