Africanized bees were the culprit in the latest bee attack. Four men were removing a rotten tree in Safety Harbor recently when they were attacked by bees. As a result three men were hospitalized and one suffered hundreds of stings. Thankfully everyone survived
Experts say that the bee population of the Tampa Bay area is now largely made up of African bees. In fact, these bees are reported to be present in every county south of Ocala. They common enough that firefighters are now trained to deal with African bees.
In Tampa a man was mowing his lawn when bees attacked. Paramedics were first on the scene and used heavy firefighting codes and fireproof hoods to rescue the man from killer bees. They fought with the bees for several minutes but eventually reached the safety of their vehicle. The man was stung more than 100 times.
These hybrid bees spread faster than European bees. While domestic bee colonies may split twice a year, Killer bee colonies may split up to 10 times a year. In the end the killer bees out-compete domestic bees and before long, take over their territory.
These bees are more easily disturbed than common bees. They hate loud noises and vibrations. They are more aggressive and attack in higher numbers than common bees. And they pursue any threat much farther. In some cases they will pursue any threat up to a quarter-mile.
The first thing to remember when you are attacked by bees is to run and run and run some more. Do not stop running until you can find a building or a vehicle for shelter. Do not bother jumping into water because it will not help. The bees will just hang around and wait for you to surface.
The recent attack is a sobering reminder that the entire Tampa Bay area is now home to these hybrid bees. Safe coexistence with these bees will require a bit more awareness and a little more knowledge. Be aware of bees going in or out of any small space. Be prepared to run at the first sign of danger. Above all never try to deal with a nest of bees by yourself. For safety’s sake call a professional bee removal or pest control service.
Florida Bug Inspectors, a leading Tampa exterminator, has over 2 decades of experience finding solutions for challenging insect control problems including bee removal. If you are experiencing bug problems, call Florida Bug Inspectors.
