First Confirmed Killer Bees Found in Georgia
State Authorities Confirm Death of Georgia Farmer Caused by Africanized Honey Bees
Davis was clearing brush on his property with a bulldozer last week when the machine accidentally disturbed a large hive located in an old porch. He was stung over one hundred times by the agitated bees and died at the scene.
The sting of Africanized bees is no more deadly than any other honey bee, however, killer bees are more protective of their nests and more aggressive and easily agitated. Killer bees, as they are casually called, swarm potential threats and sting, dying afterwards. As with all honey bees, the stinger is barbed and rips from the bee's abdomen when penetrating human flesh. While humans can withstand several stings, more than a dozen or so can induce shock and even death. What makes killer bees more deadly than European honey bees is their defensiveness around the hive. A simple sound or vibration can alert the hive to attack. European honey bees are more laid-back and docile, although, they too will protect their hive when needed. Killer bees also invade and take over European bee hives and southern commercial beekeepers are on the lookout for an Africanized bee incursion.
Killer bees are a hybrid of African and European honey bees. They resulted from a research project meant to increase honey production. A bee-keeper in Brazil accidentally released 26 African queen bees into the wild in 1957 and these queens mated with wild drones to produce Africanized bees. Since then, killer bees have spread northward throughout Central America. It is believed that the first of these bees entered Texas in 2000 and they have spread throughout several southwestern states. Last week's attack is the first known presence of killer bees on the East Coast.
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Published by Angie Mohr CA CMA - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance and Lifestyle
Angie Mohr is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Management Accountant who has worked with thousands of business clients from home-based entrepreneurs to rock bands to celebrity chefs. She is also the auth... View profile
Killer Bees Caused the Death of a South West Georgia ManCurtis Davis of Dougherty County, Georgia died last week. Killer bees attacked Mr. Davis, he didn't have a fighting chance for survival.
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11 Comments
Post a CommentHope as Laura says, that they keep working on ways to minimize the threats.
Informative.
Interesting info on killer bees, thanks!
Great info we learned about these bees when we were in Africa the tracker was knowledgeable about the bees and their origin and their aggression.
i saw a program on TV on them; the scientists have a way to actually breed the African bees to be gentle...it's something they need to keep working on. It's very fascinating.
Very informative. Thanks
Very scary
Thanks for the report
Great article Angie! Very informative =0)
All bees are killer to me