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San Jacinto County was added today to the state quarantine, restricting the movement of commercial bee operations following the detection of Africanized honey bees. The addition makes 151 counties in Texas now quarantined for Africanized honey bees, according to the Texas Apiary Inspection Service, a unit of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. A sample from a colony of wild bees was collected and sent to the Texas Honey Bee Identification Lab in College Station on Oct. 24, according to Paul Jackson, chief apiary inspector. All of the bees were destroyed. A man who was using a leaf blower received about 10 stings from the bees but was not seriously injured and has recovered. Jackson said the quarantine allows beekeepers to move beehives within, but not out of, the zone in an effort to prevent assisting the spread. Africanized honey bees look just like regular domestic honey bees but are more defensive in protecting their hives, according to Jackson. The Africanized bee was first detected in the United States near Brownsville in October 1990. Africanized honey bees also have been found in Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico. (Kathleen Phillips, Texas A&M Agriculture News, 11/14/03.)
Local authorities responded to an emergency call Oct. 22 at Terlingua Ranch from a woman who was being attacked by Africanized honey bees. According to Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson, Judith Broughton and her dog were stung repeatedly by the "killer bees" at her home in Terlingua. Broughton had over 800 stings, but survived the assault. Her dog died as a result of the attack. The day after the attack at the Broughton residence, Kathy Killingsworth, superintendent of Terlingua Common School District, called a local exterminator to dispose of a beehive at the school, which she estimated to contain "thousands" of bees. Dodson said this isn't the first case of killer bee attacks in the area. Last July, the home of Jim and Becky Brantley at South Double Diamond was attacked. The Brantley's said they had a hive of honey bees in their garden, and co-existed with them for five years. That all changed when one day, out of the blue, the bees raided their dwelling. "I was sitting on the front porch swing bench," said Mrs. Brantley, "when all of a sudden a bee stung me on my head. Then out of nowhere, they were swarming me." She said she ran inside her home and was yelling for her husband to help. The bees followed her and began stinging at everything, including the pet cats. When Mr. Brantley came to her aid, there were bees "everywhere," he said. He tried to kill them and get them out of the house. It was 45 minutes before things settled down enough to call 911. Dodson responded to the call and said he wasn't able to exit his vehicle. "When I got there, the bees were so many that I couldn't even get out of the car," Dodson said. "They were attacking everything. Birds were just falling out of the sky." Mr. Branltey said he went outside shielded in a towel to look for one of the cats. "When I got out there, I could hear them hitting the towel trying to sting me," said Mr. Brantley. After the initial attack, he said, the bees "circled the house for hours and hours." Besides these recent bee attacks, others have been reported in the area as far back as three years. Officials are not threatened. Logan Boswell, county extension agent, said that Africanized bees have lived in this area since around 1996. "Once they get established in an area, they are there forever," said Boswell, "and there's no difference that distinguishes them from other bees other than their behavior." Boswell said the bees are not more aggressive, but they are more defensive, and don't present any real danger while they are swarming. "They swarm to make a new hive," Boswell said. "Once they have established a hive, that's when they get defensive." Mr. Brantley, who witnessed the swarm, said, "They are like a black mass that tumbles in the sky." Boswell said an Africanized queen can possibly go into a hive a kill the existing queen to take her place. After a period of about four to six weeks, the hive becomes Africanized. "When she [the Africanized queen] polluted that gene pool, that's all it took," said Brantley. Boswell said in this area, the winter years offer more foliage for the bees, which is probably why there have been some recent attacks, especially following such a wet summer. On the other hand, Boswell said, colder winters help to kill off the bees. Either way, both Boswell and Mrs. Brantley, a registered nurse, said it's a good idea to keep some Benadryl on hand, just in case. "Be on the look out," said Mr. Brantley. "If you go out looking for arrow heads or just messing around, they can pop up without any kind of notice." ( Dave Cadriel / Staff Writer, Alpine Avalanche, 10/30/03.)
Llano County was added today to the state quarantine, restricting the movement of commercial bee operations following the detection of Africanized honey bees. The addition makes 150 counties in Texas now quarantined for Africanized honey bees, according to the Texas Apiary Inspection Service, a unit of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. A sample from a colony of bees in a building was sent to the Texas Honey Bee Identification Lab in College Station, according to Paul Jackson, chief apiary inspector. Two people were stung – from 150-250 times each – while lawn mowing. All of the bees were destroyed by an exterminator who also sent the sample for analysis. Jackson said the two people have recovered from the stings. Jackson said more than half of the Texas counties have been quarantined since the program began in 1990. The quarantine allows beekeepers to move beehives within, but not out of, the zone in an effort to prevent assisting the spread. Africanized honey bees look just like regular domestic honey bees, but are more defensive in protecting their hives, according to Jackson. The Africanized bee was first detected in the United States near Brownsville in October 1990. Africanized honey bees also have been found in Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico. (Kathleen Phillips, Texas A&M Agriculture News, 10/22/03.)
Ten years ago, honeybees with a temper first buzzed into Arizona and quickly swarmed their way throughout the state. They have been as aggressive as feared. Since 1993, Africanized bees have killed five Arizonans and injured countless others. With the state in a prolonged drought, the bees are more easily set off, experts say, and October historically has been the month when most of the severe attacks have occurred. Over the years, the Africanized bees have overtaken the more docile European honeybee, making it even more important to stay away from beehives. Every wild bee colony in Arizona is now of the Africanized variety, said Bob Smith, a University of Arizona associate professor of entomology. "It is because the Africanized genes are basically better for the biology of the colony," he said. Smith said the closer one gets to a hive, the better the likelihood of being attacked. "Their venom is no more toxic than the European honeybee. It's just that there are more of them stinging you than would be typical of European colonies," he said. Of the five states reporting their presence, Arizona is the only one with the temperamental bees in every county. They also are in most of Texas and portions of New Mexico, Nevada and California. Researchers are surprised that the bees have even taken up residence in Arizona's higher elevations, said entomologist Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, research leader of the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson. Originally, experts suggested they would opt for the warm deserts and avoid colder regions. DeGrandi-Hoffman said Arizonans have to coexist with the bees just as they do with other wild animals and insects. "It's just making people aware they are out there. If you've got them in a wall in your house, don't try to remove it (the hive) yourself," she said. Also, individual bees buzzing from plant to plant in the home garden are not a threat, she said. "They are not going to attack or hurt you. They are collecting nectar and pollen." Bee attacks common Tom Martin is a beekeeper and owner of AAA Africanized Bee Specialists Inc., a bee removal company. He said the Africanized bees have clearly been as aggressive as originally feared. "There has not been the human deaths that were once predicted, I believe, largely because of the role the media has had in educating the public to prepare," he said. But Martin, 47, said the media is not reporting bee attacks as often as it once did even though attacks continue and may be more frequent because of the drought. No one knows how many people have been stung over the years because most people don't seek treatment. The Banner Poison Control Center reported 614 bee exposures (callers reporting they had been stung) in Maricopa County in 2001, 611 last year and 523 so far this year. Because of the dry weather, the bees are more protective of their hives. Those colonies with ample honey reserves have survived the drought. "What's left are fewer colonies of Africanized bees that are far more aggressive than the average colony would have been prior to the drought," Martin said. The bees are most active in spring and fall. Insects on the
move Two attacks occurred that October. Three dogs were killed and several people stung in Peoria. Then Ken Moore, a city of Glendale plumber, was attacked Oct. 28, 1993, after lifting the lid off a water meter box in a Glendale park. He was stung nearly a dozen times. "It was just like a big swarm, kind of like what you see in the cartoons where one leads and they all follow," the 41-year-old Glendale resident recalled. Martin, who has raised bees since he was 9, said he is genuinely afraid of Africanized bees. "It is frightening for even someone like myself who has nearly 40 years' experience," he said. Homeowners need to inspect properties and call a professional before the hives become too big and potentially lethal, Martin said. Moore, who has not been stung since, has a respect for bees. "I think in
the back of everyone's mind when they see any kind of bee, they get
a little more cautious," he said. (Diana Balazs, The Arizona Republic,
10/14/03.)
A 67-year-old Premont-area man died Saturday morning after being attacked by a swarm of more than 2,000 bees, police officials told KRIS 6 News. Oscar Saenz was cutting heavy brush off County Road 402 near Alice when a swarm of bees emerged from an old car door that had been abandoned in the grass, Alice Fire Department Lt. Adan Garcia said. Saenz's wife called 9-1-1, but her husband died before help could arrive, 6 News reported. The man was stung between 1,000 and 1,500 times, 6 News reported. The Alice Fire Department was contacted at 2 p.m. Saturday to get rid of the hive. "The family wanted to go back to the residence, but were actually afraid of the location, so we were called out," Garcia said. "There were a couple of thousand bees buzzing around the area." Alice firefighters wore white Vector control suits with masks and gloves to remove the beehive. Garcia said he understood why the family was afraid. Firefighters used their hoses, which sprayed a detergent to soak the hive and kill the bees. Once the hive is covered with soapy foam, the bees outside the hive disperse. "The best thing you can do, when you're cutting heavy brush, is to scout the area for debris before you start cutting," Garcia said. "Once they go after you it's pretty hard to get away." (Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 10/12/03.)
Leon County was added today to the state quarantine, restricting the movement of commercial bee operations following the detection of Africanized honey bees. The addition makes 149 counties in Texas now quarantined for Africanized honey bees, according to the Texas Apiary Inspection Service, a unit of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. A sample from a colony of bees in a trap box was sent to the Texas Honey Bee Identification Lab in College Station, according to Paul Jackson, chief apiary inspector. All of the bees were destroyed. Jackson said TAIS no longer operates a statewide trapline because more than half of the counties have been quarantined since the program began in 1990. The quarantine allows beekeepers to move beehives within, but not out of, the zone in an effort to prevent assisting the spread. "Instead of the trapline, we have trap boxes in designated areas," Jackson said. "We rotate or move boxes depending on need or concern of people in areas where Africanized honey bees have not yet been found." Africanized honey bees look just like regular domestic honey bees, but are more defensive in protecting their hives, according to Jackson. The Africanized bee was first detected in the United States near Brownsville in October 1990. Africanized honey bees also have been found in Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico. (Kathleen Phillips, Texas A&M Agriculture News, 10/6/03.)
A worker clearing some brush on the city's southside was attacked by a large swarm of bees Wednesday morning. "He jumped down from the top of the truck and ran. I didn't really know what was going on at the time," Roland Hyatt with Woodstock Tree Services said. yatt was supervising the man when the attack happened. He says the worker, whose name is Eugene, had 18 bee stingers pulled out of just his head. Vector Control and emergency workers were called out to the scene. "This time of the season the bees are really forging out to look for homes before the winter," Victor Hinojosa with vector control said. After several minutes of spraying, Hinojosa was able to kill the majority of the bees and put the three by five foot bee hive into a bag. He says if you come across a bee hive don't touch it. Instead, call vector control or a private exterminator to get rid of the problem. (Staff, KRIS-TV 6, 9/24/03.)
This is the time of year you are likely to see honey bees swarming outside. And most likely they are the more domesticated bees, not the more aggresive Africanized version. But the Africanized bees are in some areas of Texoma and they are moving farther north each year. One Young County man can tell you what an encounter with them can be like. It was just about one year ago in Young County when Steve Reger was attacked by a swarm of Africanized bees. It`s an attack that still affects him today. Not only physically but also mentally as he is now on constant alert anytime something goes buzzing by. Less than a week shy of a year ago, Steve Reger of Eliasville was cleaning up this pecan orchard with a bulldozer, moving dead stumps and branches into this pile. This is the first time hes been back here since. Steve says experts from Texas A&M told him it was the vibrations from the bulldozer that led a defensive breed of Africanized honey bees to go on offense when he got out. "They was all over my neck and then come around and got all over my face and everything." He says the bees chased him back into the bulldozer, and then into some tall weeds where he tried to hide. His next move was to run toward his pickup, some two hundred yards away. That`s when he says he fell and broke his wrist. "In the bend right there, they had to go in and put pins in it and I didn`t even know it was broke until I got in the pickup and started trying to roll the windows down and it didn`t work." Texas A&M experts say unlike domesticated honey bees, Africanized bees are active twelve months out of the year, and this is the time of year when large hives divide into 12-15 groups, each about the size of a softball, latching on to everything from railroad cars to travel trailers, and putting them in direct contact with anything they see as a threat, including humans. "They raked out right at 100 stingers out of my back, neck, face, nose, ears." Since 1990, the so called "killer bees" have spread from just a few spots in Texas, to confirmed cases in 148 counties today, and as far north as Paducah in Cottle County. With hunting season right around the corner, experts say to check deer stands before going inside and for homeowners to call an exterminator if they see bees swarming around the house."Don`t mess with em`. Get away. If you`ve got a question, call A&M." Speaking from experience, Steve says it`s better to be safe than sorry. Paul Jackson, a bee tracker with Texas A&M says fifty percent of bee attacks are preventable. In the meantime, Steve says now that a burn ban in Young County has been lifted, he can finally take care of that brush pile. Right now, the Africanized bees can only survive in locations where they can feed year round, because unlike domestic bees, the Africanized bees don`t hibernate. (KFDX-TV Newscenter 3, 9/24/03.)
Thirteen-year-old Shawn Thomas and his dog, Taz, best buddies for the past year, loved to chase rabbits in vacant fields. But last week, during one of their outings, the two were attacked by a swarm of bees. Taz didn't survive. No other pet could replace him, Shawn said, but on Saturday a new border collie mix pup came close. Frank Plite, one of the Gilbert firefighters called to the scene of the bee attack, took Shawn to the Arizona Humane Society to pick out another "best friend" and even kicked in the adoption fees. "It's the least I can do, really," said Plite, 29, who on his day off accompanied the boy to the pound. On Thursday, Shawn and Taz, a black lab/chow mix, were playing in a field near Greenfield and Baseline roads. The bees were in a nearby overturned planter. "Taz was barking at a rabbit, and these bees started coming after us," Shawn said. The boy tried to help Taz, but the dog was tangled in his leash, so the boy ran to a nearby road to flag down help. "Taz was just covered in bees when I saw him," he said. "I couldn't stand to look at him." A passer-by called firefighters, including Plite, who took Taz to a nearby vet. Shawn didn't have any initial problems at the scene but later had difficulty breathing, either from multiple bee stings or shock over the attack, Plite said. He was taken to Banner Desert Medical Center and released shortly after. On Saturday, the
seventh-grader at Highland Junior High was still recovering from the
loss and nearly 10 bee strings he suffered. He said he was "excited"
about the new addition to his family but added, "I can never replace
my dog. He was like my best friend." (Susie Steckner, The Arizona
Republic, 9/14/03.)
The Schleicher County Sheriff's Department and Lubbock County Medical Examiners are investigating if Africanized Honey Bees played a role in the death of a 66-year-old Schleicher County man. Sheriff David Doran said Bobby Daniels was found dead with multiple bee stings Friday evening on the Powell Ranch southeast of Eldorado. So far, the sheriff's department is ruling the incident as an accidental death involving bees. Officials are investigating whether the bees were native or Africanized bees and what role they played in Daniels' death. According to the sheriff's department, Daniels was clearing brush on his tractor Friday morning when he hit a mesquite trunk containing a beehive. The bees became agitated and chased Daniels off his tractor and pursued him for ''a good distance,'' Doran said. Tom Green County Extension Horticulturalist John Begnaud said the behavior of the Powell Ranch bees was not uncommon of native or Africanized bees. He said both species are spooked by loud noises, such as those created by Daniels' tractor. ''We don't know the science behind it . . . but one of the things that sets them off is loud noises,'' Begnaud said. ''You could walk up to a hive if you're quiet and they wouldn't jump at you.'' Begnaud said Africanized bees pose only a slightly larger threat than native, or European, honeybees. Their stings are no more venomous than other honeybees, but when disturbed, they become more aggressive than other bees. However, Begnaud said it would not be unheard of for native bees to show the kind of aggressive behavior that might have led to the death of Daniels. ''When it's hot, and they're defensive of they're nests, they can (act aggressively),'' he said. According to the University of Arizona agriculture department, Africanized Honey Bees - better known as ''killer bees'' - were introduced to the Americas in the 1950s when South American honey producers brought bees from southern Africa across the Atlantic. Honey had become a popular treat in South America, but manufacturers complained that the native European honeybee wasn't a good enough producer. In South America, the African and European bees cross-bred, creating what is now known as the Africanized Honey Bee. Begnaud said the Africanized Honey Bee has inhabited the West Texas area since the late 1980s and, despite a quarantine process, doesn't appear to be going anywhere. The city of San Angelo has undergone an initiative to keep the bees out of the city by creating a bee hotline that tracks bees and helps residents contact bee eradication vendors. However, little has been done - or can be done - to eradicate feral colonies in country pastures, Begnaud said. ''We've established that, like fire ants, they are going to be here long after we're gone,'' Begnaud said. ''There is no eradication in our future.'' (John Boyd, Staff Writer, San Angelo Standard Times, 8/12/03.)
Investigators are
trying to determine whether the death of a 66-year-old man working on
a Concho Valley ranch was due to bee stings. 66-year-old, Bobby Frank
Daniels, died Friday on a ranch near Eldorado. The Schleicher County
Sheriff says Daniel's death may have been related to bee stings. Sheriff David Doran -- The community was shocked. Mr. Daniels was a friend of the community and was well known, and has a lot of friends. We're all shocked and saddened by the incident. We're all recovering from it. It was real hard for my department to have to come out and investigate this, and we want to make sure we do our job thoroughly and support the family the best way we can during this time. Daniels cause of death has not been determined. Sheriff Doran says bees from the hive that attacked Daniels will be tested to see if they were Africanized Bees. Africanized Bees have been in the Concho Valley since the early 1990's. European Bees have been in the United States since the pilgrims. Experts say it is very difficult to tell them apart from regular honeybees, so the number one thing is to treat each nest as if it is an Africanized Bee’s nest. Chris Sansone--Treat them with a lot of respect cause we don't know if we're dealing with European or Africanized Bees. And the point is with honey bees if they feel a threat to their home; they are going to attack. Africanized bees are the most aggressive, then European, then honey bees. They all however have the same amount of toxin. Sheriff David Doran--If you're out in a pasture some of the ways to prevent getting stung severely is to raise a shirt or jacket over the head to prevent the stings to getting to you and just run out of the area. Bee’s usually attack at the highest point by the head. Some of the common places bees build a home are old abandoned homes, fence posts, and old logs. When you see little holes in a log, it's a good indication that bees built a nest and can still be active. Sheriff David Doran--It would be best to check the brush piles you are working at. Inspect the seen cause you never know what you are going to run into. If you do run into a bee’s nest, experts say the best time to get rid if it is at night or dusk because the bees have trouble seeing you. You can call the pest control to help, or your local sheriff's office. The best thing to do is to be aware of your surroundings and know where possible beehives may be. If there is one, do not disturb it. And if you need help getting rid of a nest, call an expert. ( Heather Moore, KLST-TV 11 - San Angelo, 8/12/03.)
A 66-year-old Schleicher County man has died after being stung multiple times by bees as he was clearing brush. Officials are investigating whether the bees were native or Africanized bees and what role they played in Bobby Daniels' death. So far, the Schleicher County Sheriff's Department is ruling the death as accidental. Daniels was found dead Friday evening on a ranch southeast of Eldorado. According to the sheriff's department, Daniels was clearing brush Friday morning when he hit a mesquite trunk with his tractor, the sheriff's department said. The bees became agitated and chased Daniels off his tractor and pursued him for "a good distance," Sheriff David Doran said. Tom Green County extension horticulturalist John Begnaud told the San Angelo Standard-Times that Africanized bees pose only a slightly larger threat than native, or European, honeybees. Their stings are no more venomous than other honey bees, but when disturbed, they become more aggressive than other bees. However, Begnaud said it would not be unheard of for native bees to show the kind of aggressive behavior that might have led to the death of Daniels. (Associated Press, 8/12/03.)
A swarm of bees attacked a group of Arlington church members July 29, then attacked the firefighters who showed up to rescue the church members. Buckeye Valley Fire Department personnel and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 5:48 p.m. distress call from the Arlington Baptist Church on Arlington School Road. By the time they arrived, several of the church members had suffered bee stings, according to a BVFD incident report. As the firefighters attempted to locate the bees’ nest, the insects then swarmed and attacked the firefighters. The bees’ nest turned out to be within a back wall of a building on the church property. As members were escorted out of the church, fire fighters brought the bees under control by spraying them with foam. In the aftermath of the attack, church officials planned to contact a beekeeper to remove the remaining bees, the report stated. None of the sting victims required medical transport. (West Valley News, 7/30/03.)
There’s been another bee attack in the Houston area. The victim this time was a dog, stung to death at the Lexus Motel in northeast Houston. When they arrived, they found the dog already dead, stung repeatedly by the bees that were apparently agitated by a lawn mower. Bee experts were called to the place. They found the hive, about a hundred pounds worth, inside the building's walls. A firefighter and the person mowing the lawn were also stung, but it was nothing serious. Experts say the bees that killed the dog are likely some form of the aggressive Africanized bee. (ABC KTRK-TV 13 Eyewitness News, 7/17/03.)
A man cutting his yard apparently stirred up a beehive at a nearby motel in northeast Houston. He escaped the swarm, but his dog was stung repeatedly and died.
"LUBBOCK RESIDENT SHOCKED to learn that his pet dogs probably died as a result of stings from Africanized honey bees." Chris Stallings and his roommates spent the better part of Thursday night in the veterinarian's office watching their dogs slowly die from anaphylactic shock. Stallings then spent the better part of Friday afternoon watching firefighters spray 1,500 gallons of foam into his back yard to kill the bees that attacked the dogs. Two firefighters
in protective gear stood about 20 feet apart and back from the hive
as they shot streams of foam up into the air. The foam made a high arc, rained down on top of the hive and puddled on the sodden grass. "The foam breaks down the wax on the bees' body, then their internal fluids bleed out," Lt. Buddy Davis said. Residents of Stallings' neighborhood were told to stay inside their homes and keep their pets indoors as the bees were killed. Fire trucks, police cars and an ambulance blocked off 62nd Street between Canton and Elgin avenues as they worked to destroy the swarm. According to Pat Porter of the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Service, the bees likely were a colony of Africanized honey bees, a highly aggressive variety known to attack animals and people. They have become known as killer bees. "Africanized bees, if they perceive a threat, they attack en masse," Porter said. Stallings, 20, said it's still uncertain if a third dog will survive the attack of the thousands of bees that colonized the northwest corner of the back yard. Each dog suffered hundreds of bee stings, he said. He was alarmed to learn the bees likely were Africanized. "I was going at them last night like they were regular bumblebees with a fly swatter and a can of Raid," he said. Bees from the yard will be sent to Texas A&M for laboratory tests to determine for sure that the bees are Africanized. However, based on the swarm's highly aggressive behavior, Porter said, he would be surprised to learn they are not. "An increasing number of wild bees in Lubbock are becoming Africanized," he said. "Africanized bees are common now." Africanized honey bees are the same species as the familiar European honey bees used to produce honey and pollinate crops, but a different subspecies. They are called Africanized because they are the result of interbreeding between European bees and bees from Africa inadvertently released in Brazil in the 1950s. The first Africanized bees were spotted in the United States in 1990 in Hidalgo. They appeared in Lubbock four years ago, Porter said. Because of the potential for the more aggressive bees, Porter encouraged people to have wild swarms exterminated. "Any colony of wild honey bees should be considered dangerous. Get rid of them," he said. Only certain exterminators are qualified to get rid of bees, he said, so consumers should verify that anyone they contact will do it properly. If they're mishandled, the bees could scatter throughout the area and attack, he said. He praised the work of the Fire Department in safely destroying the hive. "The Fire Department was superb," he said. "This was a textbook breakdown of that hive." (By Kerry Drennan, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 7/12/03.)
On Friday Africanized bees, caused quite a scare in a Lubbock neighborhood following a deadly attack. Residents were asked to stay inside their homes, while firefighters eliminated thousands of bees. Two dogs were killed and a third is in critical condition. Around three o'clock Friday afternoon, Lubbock firefighters weren't battling a blaze but a colony of Africanized bees. "Kinda scary at first not really knowing what we were actually dealing with and if everybody was in harms way or if they were just regular bees," said Resident Chad Stallings. Chad said they first noticed the bees about a month ago, but thought a wasp bomb killed them. Then Thursday night his roommates saw their dogs get attacked. Two dogs later died and Chad's dog is in critical condition. "The dog house was full of bees and there were two or 300 in the air, I approached the dog house and could hear them," said Expert Entomologist Pat Porter. Expert Entomologist Pat Porter said the fire department did an excellent job. "Superb job, they got 99 percent of the bees in the first 20 seconds, then they went back three times, continuing to spray and they got them all." Neighborhood residents were alerted to stay inside, because the spray would stir up the bees. "I woke up to a message on my answering machine that said there'd been killer bees that killed two dogs on the 2800 block of 62nd and I just sort of panicked, got my dogs in the house and watched what was happening across the street and I just saw fire trucks everywhere," said Rachael Miller, a neighbor. There were thousands of bees, but the firefighters destroyed the colony and all of the bees in the area. "They've done a real good job of letting everybody know what's going on and not to get scared," said Stallings. The Health Department was also on the scene today and wants area residents to know their is no reason to panic. There is reason to be-aware though, if you notice a colony of bees you should immediately alert the fire department, and if you have any old bee hive, they need to be destroyed so another swarm of bees doesn't move in. (KCBD-TV NewsChannel 11 Lubbock. TX 7/11/03.)
Parker County was added today to the state quarantine, restricting the movement of commercial bee operations following the detection of Africanized honey bees. The addition makes 148 counties in Texas now quarantined for Africanized honey bees, according to the Texas Apiary Inspection Service, a unit of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. A sample from a colony of bees in a tree at 1361 Thomas Rd., northeast of Springtown, was sent to the Texas Honey Bee Identification Lab in College Station, after two men bulldozing in the vicinity were stung, according to Paul Jackson, chief apiary inspector. All of the bees were destroyed. Both men sought medical attention and records indicated a total of about 150 stings, Jackson said, but both recovered from the incident. All of the bees in the hive were killed, he said. The quarantine allows beekeepers to move beehives within, but not out of, the zone in an effort to prevent assisting the spread. Africanized honey bees look just like regular domestic honey bees but are more defensive in protecting their hives, according to Jackson. State bee inspectors continue to monitor a series of bee traplines that extend across the state from Louisiana to New Mexico. The Africanized bee was first detected in the United States near Brownsville in October 1990. Since then, the bee has spread through much of the state, along a line roughly from Houston to Lubbock to El Paso. Africanized honey bees also have been found in Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico. ((Kathleen Phillips, Texas A&M Agriculture News, 7/3/03.)
With summer here, Erath County Extension Agent Joe Pope said calls have been swarming in on the threat of bees and potential Africanized bees — also known as killer bees. “We always have a lot of calls on bees, especially in the spring of the year because that’s when they (the bees) normally swarm,” he said. “That (swarming) is just a phenomenon that occurs as the bees leave a colony to establish a new hive.” Pope said at this time, Africanized bees have not been found in Erath County in 2003. “Erath County has had an identification of Africanized bees in past years, so it is possible (for Africanized bees to be found in Erath County),” he said. “But the only way to diagnose a bee positive (as the Africanized bee) is to collect a number of them and send them to a lab for positive identification — they look identical to other bees.” According to a recent report in the “Hood County News,” a Tolar-area man received more than 40 bee stings after he began pushing down some trees with a bulldozer. Pope said although 40 stings may sound like an aggressive-type of bee, any bee can be aggressive when patronized. “People need to understand that European bees can be aggressive if you go in there and threaten or attempt to harm them,” he said. “However, they should not be aggressive when in an environment where you are not aggravating an attack.” Pope said he has had a few reports this year “where people said they were attacked by bees.” However, he has not sent any bees to the lab to be tested to determine if they were Africanized bees. Pope said just because bees are seen in a swarm it does not mean the bees will be aggressive. “(During the spring time of year) people often see a large mass of bees, usually on a tree limb, maybe the size of a basketball,” he said. “That usually means they (the bees) have sent scouts out to find a new location for the hive. As soon as they find a suitable location, the bees will leave — usually within 24 hours, 48 at the most. Most of the bees at that state are not going to be aggressive. They are generally European honey bees.” Pope said if bees are seen swarming later in the year, such as August or September, there is a greater chance they are Africanized bees. Pope stressed that there are many different types of bees in Texas, and they all play a vital role in the circle of life. “We need to remember that bees are necessary for pollination,” he said. “To just arbitrarily go out and kill all the bees is not a wise decision. They are a beneficial insect. Pope said in most cases, if the bees are not being aggravated, they will leave humans alone. However, there are certain circumstances — such as a beehive near where small children play or in the walls of a home — in which Pope recommends the homeowner properly dispose of the bees. (Amelia Wigton, Stephenville Empire-Tribune, 7/2/03.)
Swarming bees yesterday killed a dog and attacked a man who tried to rescue the animal. A pair of raccoons stirred the hive in a tree near the home on West Fifth Avenue about 1 p.m. The bees attacked the dog, which was in its house about 10 feet from the hive. The man ran to a neighbor's house, where he called for help. He was stung several times, the Fire Department said. Firefighters sprayed foam on the bees to subdue them. The swarm was believed to be European honey bees. (San Diego Union Tribune, 6/29/03.)
A Fort Bend County woman was no match for a swarm bees that attacked and killed three pets. A bee attack proved deadly in Fort Bend County and now people living in the area are on edge. The bees stung three dogs to death Wednesday afternoon. Seventeen-year-old Rosa Rodriguez tried to save the dogs, but she was no match for the vicious swarm. She was stung 12 times and in the confusion and she was even bitten by one of her dogs. "I really tried to save his life," said Rodriguez. "I just wanted to save his life." Rodriguez and her family just moved into their home and had no idea the beehive was thriving under an old bathtub in an abandoned lot next door. But the family can now rest easier. Exterminators removed the hive Thursday. The summer swarms have been very aggressive this year and we've seen several attacks already. Two weeks ago, bees killed a dog and stung a child in southeast Houston. Earlier this week, a Pasadena man was stung more than 200 times by honeybees. He was in the hospital for a short time, but is now recovering at home. Bee season doesn't usually start until July, but beekeepers say aggressive africanized bees are influencing normally docile bees. (KTRK-TV Houston ABC13 Eyewitness News, 6/27/03.)
A bulldozer operator suffered multiple bee stings while clearing brush from private property north of Tolar Tuesday about noon. Matt Hutsell, a
first responder with the Tolar Volunteer Fire Department, estimates
the Tolar area man had more than 40 bee stings on his head, back and
arms. According to the Hutsell, the EMTs assessed the man’s condition. He declined to be transported to a hospital. A witness at the scene said he believes the incident occurred when the heavy equipment operator was pushing down some trees. County Extension agent Marty Vahlenkamp cautioned the public to be careful of possible bee attacks while involved in outdoor activities. “Bees are more active during spring and summer collecting nectar, and they can be very aggressive,” said Vahlenkamp. As for their attacking the man, the county agent said, “Bees are just like you and I. We would also get angry if someone attacked our home.”
Reactions such as hives, redness, swelling over the body, vomiting, dizziness, difficulty breathing and thickened or hoarse speech all can indicate a serious condition and necessitate prompt medical attention, they say. (Hood County News, 6/27/03.)
An elderly who resides
in the 1300 block of Parkside Drive was attacked by bees while mowing
his lawn Monday night. Although his home sits only a few feet from Strawberry Park, there is no threat to residents, the city says. "Quite frankly, it didn't occur in the park," Mike Isermann, assistant to the mayor for leisure and recreation, said. The city won't be taking extra precautions because "the incident happened on his property," and Strawberry Park hasn't had a bee problem before "that I am aware of," Isermann said. Bee keeper Herb
Barrier removed the hive from a hole in the siding of Elder's house
and believes the bees became aggressive when Elder mowed too close to
the nest. When officers arrived, two paramedics were fending off the insects while trying to attend to Elder and two other neighbors who received over 20 stings, police said. "I saw the paramedics arrive, and the neighbors running over there," said Jim Acton, a Parkside resident who lives four doors down from Elder. "I've never seen a swarm like that before." Acton said he hasn't had bee problems before and isn't worried about future occurrences. "Bees migrate and when they do, they swarm," he said. (Heather L. Nicholson, The Pasadena Citizen, 6/25/02.)
A Pasadena man is hospitalized today in stable condition after suffering more than 200 bee stings. Authorities said the man was attacked Monday night while mowing his lawn. Pasadena police said 64-year-old Harold Elder Jr.'s face was covered by bees when help arrived. One officer said the swarm was like a frame of the man's upper torso. Two neighbors who tried to help Elder suffered minor injuries -- about 20 stings each. (AP, 6/24/03.)
Killer Bees May
be Headed to Albuquerque. Experts say the drought in the southern part
of the state may be to blame.
In recent weeks, two dogs in Dona Ana County on the Mexican border have died due to stings, most likely from killer bees. They've also been spotted about 100 miles north near homes in Lincoln County. Similar to common honey bees but dangerously aggressive, Africanized honey bees were first detected in the United States near Brownsville, Texas, in 1990. They've been around ever since. But early summer is their peak season, and entomologist Carol Sutherland is warning New Mexicans to be on the lookout. Recent rains may have made the northern parts of the state more appealing to the deadly insects, she said. "The population is large enough that they can swarm and split into smaller groups. They'll do this because they might have run out of water or food and left normal areas where they are active," said Sutherland, entomologist with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service. Her advice: Treat them with the same caution you would a rattlesnake. "People should be aware of bees as they might be of rattlesnakes, and they should exercise that kind of caution while biking, fishing, or hiking, especially around water sources or blooming plants," Sutherland said. New Mexico's only reported death from killer bees came in 2000, when Lucille Kincaid of Carlsbad died following an attack. But an attack can come any time, and the bees are now found in a region that includes parts of New Mexico, California, Texas, Nevada and Arizona. In New Mexico, they've been reported in several counties since 1993, including Hidalgo, Luna, Eddy, Dona Ana, Grant, Catron, Sierra, Lea and Otero. A hybrid colony of Africanized and European honey bees was found in Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque. An Africanized bee looks like a flying raisin, and a swarm will look like swirling cornflakes accompanied by a loud buzzing sound, Sutherland said. Since Africanized bees often create hives in hollow trees, old tires, wood piles, junk and even water-meter boxes, homeowners should patrol their property and make sure tree cavities and holes in walls are filled and junk is cleaned up. Woods Houghton, Eddy County Extension Service agent, said he recently has received calls about hives found near resident's homes and urges anyone who finds a hive to call a professional exterminator or beekeeper immediately. "People need to be careful around them. Most people hurt have tried to eliminate a hive on their own," Houghton said. "That's like trying to fight a fire without a fire suit." Sutherland said the bees react to hive disturbances faster than European bees, and in a much larger numbers. "Africanized bees are really super protective of the colony," she said. Charles Simko, owner of New Mexico Pest Control of Albuquerque, said he receives four to five calls a week related to bees, and most hives have been found in underground water meters or manhole covers. None has been the Africanized variety, but nevertheless, the pest control operator will call a beekeeper to examine a hive or wash out area with a bee-killing mixture of soap and water. Not all bees buzzing around gardens this summer are harmful, Sutherland said, and there are several native species of bees that serve as effective pollinators for New Mexico's agricultural crops and orchards. (Melanie Dabovich, Associated Press Writer, 6/16/03.)
It's bee season. A man and his dog were attacked by bees at their northwest side home. Pete Pfrang says his dog clued him in. Pfrang said "so I looked out there and that's when I saw him go in his dog house, and they started swarming his dog house and he started flopping around like a fish out of water." Max the dog died. Pete was stung four times. Even our photographer shooting the story was attacked by bees. A similar incident happened Thursday. A man was stung about 20 times on the north side. Leroy Valdez with Vector Control says bees can hide anywhere and that you should call an exterminator at the first sign of bees. Vector Control will usually not handle bee trouble on private property, but they will help with public property and vacant lots in Bexar County. You can all them at 207-8853. (Maritza Nune, WOAI-San Antonio News, 6/13/03.)
Peter Pfrang and his dog were attacked by a swarm of bees Friday morning. Pfrang said he was making breakfast when he heard his dog start barking. When he went to look he saw the swarm flying around the dog house. The bees started attacking Pfrang when he went outside to open the gate so his dog could get away. Pfrang then called 911. When the fire department came out they told him to call pest control. Crews came out to clean up the bee hive, but the dog is nowhere to be found. (News 9 San Antonio, Staff, 6/13/03.)
New Mexico State
University is warning residents of bees in the area. Officials say people should distance themselves from aggressive bees and bee hives, seek shelter and immediately call 911 if attacked. If you are stung don't try to remove the stinger with tweezers or your finger, this will squeeze more venom into your body. The best way to remove a stinger is to scrape it off with your fingernail, the edge of a dull knife or try using a credit card or drivers license. For more information contact Carol Sutherland, entomology specialist, at (505) 646-1132. (Lauren Macias-Cervantes, KFOX News, 6/11/03.)
The city of Round Rock has seen an increase in bee swarms in recent weeks. Last week, in two separate instances, bees attacked two dogs in Eagle Ridge Park in North Round Rock. One dog died. Now people who live near the bee colony are taking precautions. New resident Michael Dachsel received an unfriendly welcome to his Round Rock home after a colony of bees on the other side of his fence attacked his dog. "I just moved here about a week ago. Nice neighbors, huh?" Dachsel said. Fortunately, the dog is fine, but the bees worried firefighters. "We found the bees and tried to exterminate them. They were very aggressive bees," Chief Lynn Bizzell of the Round Rock Fire Department said. On Wednesday, firefighters called in a bee keeper as back up. Bee keepers say May through July is the season when bees typically swarm in Central Texas. "Bees divide in the spring. They make a new queen and half the bees leave their home and half of them go with the old queen to find a new home, and that's how they multiply," bee keeper Joe Bohanan said. The city of Round Rock has received 20 calls about bees so far this spring. That's five more than it received all of last spring. Firefighters don't know what kind of bees were in that colony in Eagle Ridge Park. The bees were sent to Texas A&M University to determine whether they are Africanized bees. Firefighters
recommend these safety measures around bees:
Aggressive bees that put a man in the hospital Friday were disturbed again by city workers Monday afternoon, causing the hive to swarm and sting three horses trapped in a nearby corral. The bees — later determined to be non-Africanized honey bees — were reported to the city Friday when they chased a man mowing near a vacant building in the 1200 block of Whitson, a witness at the scene said. But the public works department was not fully aware of the bees’ aggressive nature Monday, said Ricky Brinkman, assistant director of public works. A neighbor who helped the man escape the bees Friday said he warned city workers at the scene Monday afternoon about the aggressive insects. “I stopped them and told them to be careful,” said Larry Sidney, an area resident. One city worker had an enclosed cab on his mowing tractor and Sidney said the worker told him that he thought he could mow the lot safely Monday. There was confusion about the bees’ location and how aggressive they were, said Brinkman. The workers didn’t know if they should take the warning more seriously, he said. “We had a work order to mow the vacant lot,” said Brinkman. When the mower hit the hive in the vacant lot at Whitson, the bees swarmed the three horses in a corral next door. When he learned about the swarming bees, Brinkman said he wasn’t sure what to do for the horses, except to keep the city workers safe. “We had a hard time locating a bee handler but one finally got there,” said Brinkman. “I don’t know what to do if they are killer bees,” said Brinkman. The public works department will review the incident and determine a better way of dealing with aggressive bees, he said. The bees were so aggressive that Sidney and the unidentified man mowing on Friday had to break into a building to escape. “We had to tear the door down of (a building) on Friday to get away from the bees,” said Sidney. He said he helped the man escape, but because the bees wouldn’t let them back out, they found themselves trapped inside. Sidney and another neighbor who came to their aid finally fled through another door near the front of the building. “We had to rush the man to the hospital,” Sidney said.He said he visited the man later in the day and he was “doing good.” When the bee handler arrived Monday, he removed the horses from their corral and Terry Williams, a friend of the horses’ owner, loaded them into a trailer and drove them to a veterinary clinic for treatment. “The bees were everywhere,” said Williams. “They (city workers) weren’t supposed to be over there,” said Richard George, the horses’ owner. “They should have waited until the bee handler arrived (to begin mowing).”The horses were covered with stings and got a dose of antihistamine, said veterinarian Ralph Cole at the Bay City Veterinary Clinic. The bees were probably ordinary honey bees, said Cole. “Very aggressive, but I doubt they were Africanized bees,” he said. If they were Africanized bees, the men and horses would not have escaped, he said. Honey bees can be aggressive protecting their hive, Cole said. An animal — or human — can receive enough bee stings to have a massive allergic reaction, which can be fatal. “The more venom, the more lethal,” he said. The horses had visible swelling around their mouths. (Judy Triplett, Bay City Tribune, 6/11/03.)
People in one San Antonio neighborhood may be leery of going outside today because of a bee invasion. Police had to close down a street in west San Antonio yesterday after a large colony of bees attacked a man and his two dogs. The Fire Department and EMS were called to Picoso and Saltillo streets when bees stung the man four or five times. His dogs were stung many more times. "The bees are agitated by lawn mowers, any type of loud noise," Joseph Hemann said. "If you are swinging something at them, they become more agitated and will follow you long distances." The man was treated at the scene. People in the area were told to stay inside. (News 9 San Antonio, 6/10/03.)
A swarm of bees attacked residents at a southeast Houston home and killed a dog Monday evening. The attack happened just after 6 p.m. at a home on Hemlock near Garland. The homeowner called 911 after the bees started attacking him and his family inside their home. Firefighters arrived and tried to help the family. They sprayed water on a Rottweiler that was being attacked, but the swarm of more than 100 bees was too much. The dog did not survive. The swarm also attacked a News2Houston photojournalist as he tried to film the reaction at the scene. A beekeeper arrived on the scene to rid the home of the bees. It is unclear where in the house the bees were located. (KPRC-TV 2 Houston, 6/9/03.)
A man who was stung about 150 times by bees was in the hospital Friday. The man was reportedly plowing a field on a tractor about 2 p.m. Friday, when he came upon an abandoned refrigerator, paramedics said. The man opened the refrigerator, and a swarm of bees flew out and attacked him, according to reports. The bees chased the man for nearly half a mile. “We were surprised at the distance the bees chased him,” said Jem Woods, senior EMS captain. “To follow him that far is really amazing.” Paramedics at the scene removed about 75 bee stingers from the man’s head, neck and back. An ambulance took him to a University of Texas Medical Branch emergency room, where about 75 more stingers came out of him. At the man’s request, hospital officials would not release his name, age or condition late Friday. (Scott E. Williams, Galveston County Daily News, 6/7/03)
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