Pam And The Bee

Pam and the Bee

By Joseph Parish

Recently my wife Pam had an encounter with a bee on our front porch as she was watering her plants. As a result, she got sting by the insect. Fortunately, the sting was not serious as it was only a single bee however under the correct circumstance it could have been very dangerous.

Let’s talk about a hypothetical situation for a moment. In 1985 the media publicize that that the "Killer Bees" were on their way to America. This imminent arrival resulted in our countries extension offices receiving many inquiries pertaining to the nature of bees. Should we as gardeners be overly alarmed about these "Killer Bees?"

Africanized honey bees have generally been over dramatized to sensationalize the evening newscasts. This term "killer bees" is frequently used by the various types of media to refer to the Africanized honey bee. Although the usual domain for these bees is from the northern portions of Europe to the very southern tip of Africa and on into western Asia. They have made their home in the new world as well. There are several types of species that are referred to as the African Honey Bees and each one has a slightly different attitude. Granted some may be meaner than dirt while others present a more moderate manner.

Many of the gentler versions of these bees have been breed by the beekeepers around the world for many years. Our own honey bees found here in North America originated from exactly these same European sources. The dangerous African bees were introduced to the Brazilian breeders around 1956 as they attempted to breed a special bee that would produce an abundance of honey. Unfortunately, swarms of these dangerous bees escaped and began to multiply. As they increased in number, they also started to dispersed both throughout South American as well as on into Central America. They gradually headed north into Mexico and by 1990 they were starting to be discovered in America.

The first confirmed swarm was revealed in Texas during 1990 with the first known attack taking place in Brownsville during 1991. It was in Texas that the very first fatality resulting from these bees occurred. So, the point remains for a gardener, should we be concerned about these bees?

As Pam discovered, any time you encounter bees that are highly defensive the likelihood of being stung is greater than normal. Let’s review a fee rules of survival with bees whether they are the African versions or our homegrown types. When you suspect that the area you are in contains bees of this nature, keep in mind that they are generally more sensitive to any unusual disturbances and will not hesitate to pursue any intruders. These bees have been known to chase an invader for up to a quarter of a mile.

When in the wild be careful of the noise created by any mechanical means as bees can easily be aroused and posed for attack merely by the noise produced. Any machine which contributes to loud sound or onsets of vibrations will get them excited. If you accidentally approach a nest chances are, they will attack you.

Several other undesirable traits which are attributed to bees besides their mean behavior is that they often swarm as a complete colony. Since they rob and take over other colonies of bees they can easily interbreed with the gentler versions and pass on their objectionable qualities to the next generations.

Of course, for us, one of the major concerns would be the venom resulting from the stings of these bees. The Africanized honey bees will inflict intruders with 10 times the poison that the normal bees would provide. The basic fact here is that just about any type of honey bee could be a "killer bee" under the right conditions. More deaths are recorded yearly for stings from bees and wasps than any other insect. Estimates have been established to indicate that the lethal number of stings range from 300 up to 1500 stings assuming the person is a non-allergic adult. It goes without saying that children require fewer stings to experience death.

A general rule to follow is that if you happen to be stung more than 15 times then you should immediately seek medical aid. Symptoms normally displayed for allergic reactions of bee stings include breathing difficulty, dizziness, hives, swelling of the tongue, and potential unconsciousness. You usually have roughly 20 minutes from the time you are stung until the outset of the above symptoms.

To protect yourself and prevent bee stings from occurring, be aware of any bees in your area. Know the location of the nesting sites and try to avoid them. Knowing what you can do when bees attack will decrease your chances of a serious injured. Bees generally choose some of the following places to establish their nests. Avoid abandoned vehicles and empty containers. Watch carefully any holes in the ground and inspect fences carefully. Old tires and cavities in trees are attractive spots for a bee nest

When bees attack, they are particularly attracted to dark colors and to a person’s hair therefore wear light colored clothing and avoid the use of citrus aftershaves, perfumes, or other lotions. Don't wear wool clothing in any active bee areas.

Becoming aware of the bees is your first line of defense. Several bees buzzing around your face is often an indication of an imminent attack. If you encounter this slowly and quietly move away. Once a single bee stings you then others will follow suit. Although bees can fly rather quickly an adult can usually outrun them so if you get stung even once run away as quickly as you can. A word of advice here is "do not" try to escape the bees by jumping into the water. Bees will merely wait for you to surface. Instead find a nearby shelter and hold up in there for a period of time. Pam was stung once but she won’t let it happen again. Aren’t we glad those “killer bees” aren’t here in Delaware?

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