RECENT AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE STORIES REPORTED IN THE MEDIA
(Stories are non-edited. List is not comprehensive; news headlines are capitalized; introductions are italicized)

US stinging incidents resulting in serious injury to man or domestic animals are still widely reported in the press, as are also minor events in newly colonized areas. However, minor casualties do not always make local news in those communities where Africanized bees are well established. The Los Angeles Times (3/13/94) reported The Tucson Citizen " ... all but stopped reporting routine bee incidents" as early as 1994.

SUMMER BRINGS OUT THE STING IN BEE COLONIES

AUSTIN, TX --- Experts warn bees can be more aggressive during the summer. Bee removal experts are getting a lot of calls from Central Texas residents.

"Right now is when they're really hitting their peak," said expert Brandon Fehrenkamp.

Bees will do anything to protect and defend their hives, Fehrenkamp said. The best thing to do if bees are attacking you is to go indoors, since the colony won't follow you inside your home.

For more safety tips to keep you from getting stung, go to www.austinbees.com.

A swarm of bees attacked a group of paramedics trying to do their job after a deadly accident in Williamson County. The accident happened Monday night in the 15000 block of FM 1325.

Paramedics in the area had to use HAZMAT suits to fight off the bees.

And Monday's bees aren't the only aggressive ones buzzing around Central Texas this summer.

The Travis County paramedics said they've never seen a scene like it. Hundreds of bees swarmed the area attacking responders, and for those that drove up on the scene, they said it was difficult to see in front of their vehicle.

"They were spraying foam on a firefighter who I could tell had been stung. There were people and cars, very chaotic right at that moment, and you could see that the bees were hampering all efforts at that point," said Peter Didonato, a paramedic who witnessed the bee attack.

Both Williamson and Travis county paramedics and firefighters responded, and the bees stung people from both agencies.

The HAZMAT suits and firefighter gear helped ease communication during the chaos following the car crash and fire that upset the nest. One person died at the scene of the accident because of the car crash.

No one is sure what type of bee made up the swarm, but regardless, in spring and summer months, paramedics said if you're stung multiple times, go see a doctor.

"If you see that bees are swarming, you just need to get out of the area, and then call for help and try to keep people from going into that area," said Didonato.

All emergency responders who were stung were OK. (KXAN-TV News, 7/8/08.)

EMS WORKERS SWARMED BY BEES AFTER RESPONDING TO CAR CRASH

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX --- Williamson County emergency service workers were attacked by bees after responding to a single-car wreck.

Paramedics say the vehicle hit a tree near Burnet Road and Shoreline. The passenger, Paola Andrea Aragon, 27, was killed in the rollover wreck and the car she was in hit a tree, disrupting a bee hive.

The bees attacked paramedics as they arrived on the scene, keeping them from moving the body or car.

DPS troopers say the 2005 Acura 2-door was traveling at a "high rate of speed" when the driver lost control and the vehicle. It rolled over, ejecting Aragon, who died at the scene. Investigators say she was not wearing a seat belt.

The coupe's driver, Pablo Quirindongo, 28, was taken to UMC-Brackenridge with non-life-threatening injuries.

Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) personnel checked out two Round Rock and one Pflugerville firefighters for bee stings. The firefighters refused treatment. The two ATCEMS paramedics continued on with their shifts.

The incident is under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety but it says the bees were not the cause of the crash or death. (KEYE-TV 42 News,
7/8/08.)

BEES COMPLICATE RESCUE EFFORTS AFTER WRECK

AUSTIN, TX --- A car traveling on FM 1325 rolled over and into a field, killing one person Monday night. But the wreck also apparently disturbed a bee hive, making things difficult for bystanders responders on the scene.

According to officials, bystanders trying to aid at the scene were stung by the bees. The bees also stung members of various departments, including 2 Austin/Travis EMS workers, 2 Round Rock firefighters, and 1 Pflugerville firefighter. All of them were treated and released at the scene.

The cause of death is not yet determined, and the accident is still under investigation, but it is not believed that the bees caused the accident.

Williamson County transported two victims to the hospital. It is not known if they were passengers in the car or bystanders who were stung by bees. (KVUE-TV 11 News, 7/8/08.)

BEES KILL 1 DOG; INJURE 2ND DOG, HORSE

CARLSBAD, NM ---- A swarm of suspected killer bees attacked at a residence south of Carlsbad Wednesday afternoon, killing one dog and injuring another dog and a horse.

Emergency personnel from the Carlsbad Fire Department and the Joel Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene on Old Cavern Highway near the intersection of Derrick Road, applying soapy foam to the bees in an effort to bring them under control. The bees had taken shelter amid some wood and debris on the property.

"We put soap on them and that suffocates them," said Fire Chief Alvy Williams of the Joel VFD. "If you can kill the queen, the rest of them will wander off or die within a few days."

Firefighters responded wearing their standard bunker gear, Williams said, before donning an additional "bee suit" composed of a special coat and head covering.

"The main difference between regular bees and killer bees is that killer bees are so aggressive," said Williams. "If you kill one of them, squash it, or if they get agitated, it releases a pheromone that attracts other bees."

He added that the only way to determine if "killer" bees are truly Africanized honey bees is to collect 250 sample bees and send them to a lab for individual testing. Ultimately, he said, if agitated bees are attacking they will be treated the same way.

"We carry the bee suits every time we go out," he said. "Eddy County policy is to respond just like this in an emergency."

David Riley was the owner of the dog that was killed. His father, Danny Huber, resides at the home where the attack occurred.

"We were out here last night and I saw some bees," he said. "I didn't think they looked normal.

"Luckily today my uncle was able to get the horse out, and my other dog got away," he said. "But the bees got the other one."

To guard against killer bees taking up residence on your property, the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service recommends the following precautions:

"Bee-proof" your home by filling in potential nesting sites such as tree cavities and holes in outside walls. Install fine screens over the tops of rain spouts, vents and openings in water meters and utility boxes. Remove piles of trash and junk.
Seal openings of more than one-eighth inch in walls and around chimneys and plumbing.

During swarming season - from spring to fall - make a "bee patrol" around your home once or twice a week to listen for the sound of persistent buzzing. Check for bees continually entering or leaving the same area of your home or yard. (Tom Schneider, Carlsbad Current-Argus, 7/02/2008.)

BEES INJURE EIGHT PEOPLE ON THE WEST SIDE

TUCSON, AZ --- A swarm of bees injured eight people and a dog on the west side Tuesday.

Firefighters were called out to a neighborhood south of Star Pass and Mission.

Crews foamed a hive in the 12-hundred block of San Jose Drive, but neighbors were asked to stay inside until the remaining bees moved on.

It's not clear what stirred up the bees. None of the injuries were serious. (Stephanie Johnson , KOLD TV 13 News, 7/2/08.)

BEES ATTACK ON THE WEST SIDE

TUCSON, AZ --- A swarm of angry bees on Tucson's west side attacked neighbors and pets.

Eight people were stung and one dog was taken to the animal hospital.

Capt. Norm Carlton with the Tucson Fire Dept. says crews were dispatched to the area of Mission and San Marcos Blvd around 5:30 Tuesday Evening. "As soon as they got out of the truck the bee's were very aggressive and just started right on them."

TFD located the beehive in an abandoned car behind a vacant house.

Firefighters backed off and regrouped. Going on the offensive, Carlton says they equipped themselves with bee veils and a detergent based spray foam. "Basically what the foam does is it closes up the bee's ability to breath so they die very rapidly."

Carlton says now is prime time bee season. "We have a large number of bee's this year due to the amount of rain we had last year."

Five year old Aaron Contreras was among those who were stung. "I only got it on my face and my hair. I got it everywhere. I wasn't very tough cause I was yelling there and I was crying."

Aaron's father says his son was stung more than 10 times. He says Aaron will be just fine. (Tyler Wing, KVOA News 4, 7/2/08.)

OFFICIALS STRESS BEE SAFETY AFTER SWARM ATTACKS FAMILY

Officials didn't know what caused a swarm of bees to attack a family Monday evening, but urge residents to be careful around the insects.

LUBBOCK, TX --- Officials didn't know what caused a swarm of bees to attack a family Monday evening, but urge residents to be careful around the insects.

The bees stung four children and one adult multiple times at the family's residence in the 1500 block of 28th Street. The smallest child suffered 30 bee stings, said Kevin Overstreet, director of Lubbock Animal Services.

The family was taken to the hospital, but has since been treated and released. They were not allowed to go home for 24 hours.

Authorities had not determined Tuesday what variety of bees stung the family. It was unknown if they were Africanized bees, commonly called killer bees and known for their aggression.

Overstreet said it's possible there are killer bees in the Lubbock area, though he didn't know of any confirmed cases. Generally, Africanized bees stay further south than Lubbock.

The bees, found inside the wall of the family's house, were exterminated and sent to a state lab for testing.

Overstreet said this time of year - late spring and early summer - is when the area sees the most bees because they are pollinating flowers. (Robin Pyle, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 6/25/08.)

AFRICANIZED BEES SEEN NEAR TULLOS

Africanized honeybees are in LaSalle Parish.

TULLOS, LA --- The aggressive bees were confirmed near the town of Tullos on June 17, according to a press release from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Samples of the bees were taken on May 7, said Craig Roussel, director of horticulture and quarantine programs for the state. Following an initial screening, the samples were sent to the United States Department of Agriculture lab in Arizona.

Because of the length of the screening process, there is usually lag in the notification process, Roussel said Tuesday.

No reports of Africanized honeybee stings have been reported in Louisiana since the bees migrated in 2005 from Texas, Roussel said.

"We really haven't seen the aggression that we saw when these bees first entered the U.S.," he said.

Besides size, aggression is the main difference between the Africanized honeybee and the European honeybee, which is commonly raised for domestic honey production.

The venom in both bees is the same, but Africanized bees will sting in greater numbers leading to a toxic reaction in some cases, the release stated.

If someone sees an Africanized honeybee, Roussel advised to not bother the bee or the hive. Roussel added that in the case of a bee attack a person should seek cover immediately.

Despite the added-aggression, Roussel said there is no need to panic around Africanized honeybees. People need to learn to live with them, much like fire ants, because they're here.

The Town Talk called the Town of Tullos for a comment on the bees, but no one was available. An answering machine message said the town office was closed for vacation until June 30.

Roussel said he had talked with the LaSalle Parish Sheriff's Office about the presence of the bees. (R.T. Morgan, The Town Talk, 6/25/08.)

BEES IN ABANDONED HOUSE WORRIES NEIGHBORS

FORT WORTH, TX -- Residents in a Fort Worth neighborhood say they cannot let their children play in their yards because of a growing bee problem inside the walls of an abandoned house, NBC 5 reported.

The derelict house sits right next door to Cynthia Martinez's and it isn't hard to tell that no one has lived in it for decades. Martinez said the massive beehive that has been festering inside the walls of the abandoned house for years and that her children have been stung several times.

"I'm just worried about the kids getting stung by the bees," Martinez said. "They're just flying and flying and they can't come back here and get their bikes."

The city of Fort Worth does not handle bee removal, that is a strictly private enterprise, but an exception may be made, Alex Southern of Fort Worth Code Compliance said.

Southern said Martinez's situation could be a precedent setting case. The city has attempted to notify the absentee owners, SKF Unlimited, and is preparing legally to step in and remove the bees.

"Our main concern is the safety and health of the people living around the house. But we still have to see what legal grounds we have," Southern said. "Because in the end, this is still private property and it's still being the government going into someone's house and busting out a wall because that's what we're going to do to get those bees out of there." (NBC TV-5 NEWS, Fort Worth, TX, 6/24/08.)

BEE TESTING UNDERWAY

LUBBOCK, TX --- Testing is underway to determine what type of bees swarmed a central Lubbock neighborhood Monday night. The attack sent five people to the hospital, and forced authorities to close part of 28th Street.

Lubbock Animal Services tells NewsChannel 11 they've sent some of the bees to be tested. They're coordinating efforts with the Texas State Health Department. Animal Services Director Kevin Overstreet says the four children and one adult
hospitalized have been released. He says the youngest child had around 30 bee stings.

The folks at Gafford Pest Control sent the bees off for testing. They went out Monday morning to check the home at 1520 28th Street. Crews say there didn't appear to be any activity, but they did treat the area again, just to be safe.

Around 6:30 p.m. Monday, Lubbock Fire and EMS crews arrived to find bees swarming through the neighborhood near 28th and Avenue M. Firefighters discovered the bees were coming from the side of the home at 1520 28th Street. They broke off a portion of the siding and found a large hive.

Battalion Chief Kelly Morman says the bees were very aggressive and stung several people. Crews soaked the hive down with a foam solution to suffocate the bees. Exterminators arrived a short time later to treat the area.

Professionals say they can't be sure, right now, if the bees are typical honey bees or the more dangerous Africanized bees. "They are just more aggressive and generally they are a little smaller and darker bee, but you really can't tell unless they've been tested," Gafford Pest Control Owner Tim Gafford said.

Neighbors say whatever they are, the swarm scared them. "My heart just dropped. It just dropped. It's scary to have anything like this," neighbor Nettie Gloria said.

Gafford says some children throwing rocks may have stirred up the hive. He says people who see swarming bees should avoid the area, and if they become more of a problem, folks should call a professional exterminator.

NewsChannel 11 will keep folks updated on the test results. (News Channel TV 11 KCBD-TV, TX ,6/24/08.)

BEES TO BE TESTED AT TEXAS A&M

GRAHAM, TX --- The Young County Sheriff's Office faced a swarm of bees for the second time Wednesday in an effort to determine if the bees that attacked James Milton Dunsworth were in fact Africanized Killer Bees.

Sheriff Bryan Walls said several deputies returned to the site of the attack near Indian Chief Road to collect some bees for analysis by experts at Texas A&M University.

"We took a beekeeper out there, and we probably sent 400 off," Walls said.

A closer look at the scene revealed the horror that Dunsworth faced Monday after he knocked over a dead tree with a bee hive inside.

"The hive was probably four feet long, and there were probably 30,000 bees on it," Walls said.
After facing the bees during a daring rescue Monday, sheriff's deputies stayed safely inside their vehicle while the beekeeper did the dirty work Wednesday. Walls said as the man dressed in a bee suit approached, the bees attacked again.

"They were all over him," Walls said.

Using a vacuum system, the beekeeper sucked several hundred bees off the hive and killed them with poison. Those bees were then sent to Texas A&M for analysis. Only a close-up look from experts can determine if a hive has been Africanized.

"They have to put the wings under a microscope," Walls said. "That's the only way they can tell."

Dunsworth's friends and family also got some good news Wednesday when the Graham man was released for John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth.

His recovery was amazing, Walls said, when considering he was attacked by the bees for close to 30 minutes while waiting for help. After the bee attack began, Dunsworth called 9-1-1 and had to wait for emergency responders to find him in the isolated land in Dark Canyon.

Several sheriff's deputies were stung during the rescue attempt. Two Graham Fire Rescue firefighters wearing bee suits were able to grab Dunsworth.

After being stabilized by emergency medical technicians from Graham/Young County ambulance, Dunsworth was flown by air ambulance to Fort Worth.(David Rupkalvis, The Graham Leader, 6/13/08.)

UPDATE: MAN IN HOSPITAL AFTER BEE ATTACK

WACO, TX --- A Waco man injured after driving his tractor mower over a bee's nest has been taken to a local hospital.

Connie Joe Allen remains at Providence Health Center in guarded condition, a hospital spokesman said.

Foxworth-Galbraith general manager Michael Newsom said Allen works as a contractor for the company, mowing the company's vacant lots in the summer.

The company brought a bee specialist to the property after the morning attack, and Newsom said the man had trouble finding the well-hidden nest inside a sewer line manhole.

The beekeeper told Newsom that even if Allen had walked the property before mowing, he probably wouldn't have seen the nest.

Waco firefighters had to spray Allen down with foam to get the bees off him. (Emily Ingram, Waco Tribune, 6/12/08.)

KILLER BEES ATTACK MAN

GRAHAM , TX --- A day's work almost turned deadly for a Graham man Monday when he was attacked by a swarm of what was likely Africanized killer bees.

James Milton Dunsworth, 72, was stung thousands of times after he knocked over a tree with a bulldozer that apparently had a bee hive inside.

Dunsworth was working on property in Dark Canyon shortly after noon when the bees began to attack. Despite being stung repeatedly, he was able to call 9-1-1 and gave the dispatcher a general description of where he was located.

Deputy Matt Pruitt was one of the first emergency responders on the scene but was unable to locate Dunsworth.

"We had a general idea where he was because we had home on the cell phone," Investigator Tim Bay said. "We got in the area, and we heard him hollering."

Dunsworth's calls for help gave emergency personnel some assistance, but finding the man was still a challenge. Young County Rural Volunteer Fire Chief Steve Reger led a small convoy of vehicles down a steep hill, following only the dozer tracks. Approximately two miles down the hill, bees began to attack.

"We went on past a feeder, and that's when we saw the bees," Pruitt said. "We got out, and that's when we got stung. I don't know if he uncovered something or what, but it was unbelievable. They were very aggressive, they were coming after you."
"They were swarming the windows, swarming the cab," Reger said.

After locating the bull dozer, Reger was able to find Dunsworth lying on the ground covered by bees.

"There were 100 to 150 on him even when he was laying on the ground," Reger said. "We could hear him yelling, and when I hollered at him, he raised his head and laid it back down and didn't move again."

Once Dunsworth was located, two Graham Fire Rescue firefighters took over. Wearing protective bee suits, Lt. Charles Huitt and firefighter Cole Epperson grabbed Dunsworth, put him on the back of Reger's truck and the group fled the scene.

"It was a bunch of chaos," Huitt said. "There were hundreds of bees swarming. Most of them were off of him and going after everyone else down there. When we got to him, we were swatting them off."

"I felt like I was in the military," Epperson said. "It was hit and run. We just grabbed him and took off."

The bees followed the convoy close to a mile back up the hill before the attackers relented. Once the vehicles reached a Graham/Young County ambulance, emergency medical technicians were able to treat Dunsworth, and an Air Evac helicopter was called in.

"He was conscious and talking to us," Huitt said.

Despite being stung more than 1,000 times, most of them on his head and face, Dunsworth never lost consciousness and appeared to respond well to the early treatment.

He was flown by air ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth for treatment.

Several emergency responders were also stung during the rescue, but no one sustained major injuries.

In all, three sheriff's deputies, five firefighters, two EMTs and Graham Emergency Management Coordinator David Hooper braved the bees to help with the rescue. Several other sheriff's deputies were at the scene consoling Dunsworth's family.
Huitt said Graham Fire Rescue's bee suits made the rescue possible because hundreds of bees were trying to attack the firefighters as they went to Dunsworth.

"This is the first actual bee attack I've seen," Huitt said. "We've used the suits two times, but never for an actual attack. It worked for those who had them. I didn't get stung once."

For Reger, the rescue was personal. Several years ago, Reger became the first person attacked by Africanized bees in Young County.

Since that time, he has learned everything he can about the bees and tries to respond to every bee call. Reger said if the hive was inside a tree Dunsworth knocked over, the bees would likely fly away and find a new home. But he said he was willing to make sure the danger was gone.

"If they want us to come back out to find it and destroy it, we will," he said. (David Rupkalvis, The Graham Leader, 6/10/08.)

THOUSANDS OF BEES EXTERMINATED
Several people, animals stung

LA FERIA, TX ---- The La Feria Fire Department says 2,000 bees were exterminated. The bees were reportedly threatening people and pets.

A man called 911 shortly before 8 a.m. He says a massive swarm of bees attacked him. He had stings all over his head and face.

Firefighters found the bees underneath a trailer, three miles north of the expressway on FM 506.

Several other people had already been stung. We're told dogs in the neighborhood got the worst of it.

Firefighters say one dog is in very bad shape right now and may not survive. (KRGV-TV NewsChannel 5, 6/10/08)

CBP TAKES STING OUT OF SHIPMENTS WITH KILLER BEES

NEW ORLEANS, LA ---- Twice within a three-week period swarming bees later identified as the aggressive Africanized Honeybees were detected and destroyed by U. S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists in Mississippi ports of entry. The so-called killer bees are a hybrid species known to be more defensive than European honeybees.

The first swarm was found April 26 on a vessel in Gulfport, arriving from Honduras, while the second was discovered on May 14 onboard a ship in Pascagoula that arrived from Jacksonville, Florida. In both cases, CBP agriculture specialists after detection and destruction of the insects, collected samples that were sent to the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center at the University of Arizona in Tucson where extensive examination and morphometric testing confirmed them to be the Africanized bee.

These bees are likely to swarm more often, moving from one site to another. They are less selective in finding new homes, and can be found, as in these cases, attaching themselves to any structure that offers some protection from the elements. This type of bees are feared due to the heightened defensive response when the hive feels threatened.

"These are significant intercepts of a dangerous insect that has not yet been established in Mississippi," said Robert C. Gomez, CBP director of field operations for New Orleans. "Their ability to colonize into an area can cause a problem to humans and animals but can also pose a threat to the beekeeping industry".

"These interceptions highlight the importance CBP places on our agriculture inspection program and in particular the diligence of our agriculture specialists in their ability to recognize and prevent the entry of organisms that could be used for biological warfare or terrorism," Gomez added.

CBP employs more than 2,000 agriculture specialists who must meet strict educational requirements and receive intensive, scientific-based training developed and administered jointly by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and CBP. Agriculture specialists protect the United States from the threat of invasive pests and diseases with inspection, detection and prevention efforts designed to keep prohibited agricultural items from entering the country.

These items, whether in commercial cargo or with a person entering the United States, could cause serious damage to America's crops, livestock, and the environment. In fiscal year 2007, CBP agriculture specialists intercepted almost 4,300 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products each day, including 164 actionable agricultural pests at ports of entry. (Imperial Valley News, 6/10/08.)

MAN TELLS OF BEE ATTACK ON SOUTH MOUNTAIN

PHOENIX, AZ -- Attacked by hundreds of bees and alive to tell about it. Charles Connell recounts a bee attack on South Mountain, during which he fell 85 feet down the mountain.

It was three weeks ago when Connell was hiking alone on the mountain. He was climbing a ravine when he reached his hand out to grab a rock and disturbed a nest of bees.

The force of the bee attack knocked him down the mountain. He tumbled across rocks and through cacti with the bees racing after him.

``I hear bees and then I feel bees and then I touch my head and my whole head was like a baseball cap of bees," Connell told CBS-5.

He screamed for help, but no one came.

``I thought, `My God, I left my cellphone in the car.'"

For at least 15 minutes, Connell lay on the ground as the bees constantly stung him.

``I had bees all over me. I remember brushing my hair back, trying to get some dust and brush it and suddenly, my arm was covered with bees. So the hand I'm using to knock the bees out of my hair is now a bee hand."

He adds, ``There was the typical bee in your nose, bee in your eyes, bee in your mouth, bee in your eardrums. I remember putting my finger in my ear, and I just shoved a bee into my ear further."

Connell has two pins holding together his shattered wrist. He also broke three ribs, an arm and a toe. He has 40 staples in his head to heal wounds caused by the bee stingers. he said he's still pulling bee stingers out of his skin. (KPHO News-Talk 92.3 FM, 6/10/08.)

GRAHAM MAN ATTACKED BY BEES

GRAHAM, TX --- A Graham man is in critical condition after he was stung numerous times by swarming bees.

72 year old James Milton Dunsworth was operating a bull dozer in the Dark Canyon Area south of Graham when he was attacked.

Young County Sheriff Brian Walls says medical crews estimated Dunsworth has more than a thousand bees stings. He was air-flighted to John Peterson Hospital in Fort Worth. Testing is being done on the bees to determine if they are Africanized. Africanized bees are more commonly known as killer bees.(Dan Garcia, KAUZ- TV 6 News, 6/9/08.)

BEE SWARM ATTACKS HIKERS, KILLS DOG IN LA-AREA PARK

LOS ANGELES, CA ---- Authorities say a swarm of bees stung a group of teenage boys hiking in a Los Angeles-area park today, sending 1 of them to the hospital and killing a dog.

A Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks spokeswoman says the five boys and the dog, a Boxer named Rocky, were hiking in Stoney Point Park in Chatsworth when the attack occurred.

Chris Jones, the father of 1 of the teenagers and owner of Rocky told KCAL-TV that 1 of the boys who tried to pick up the dog and carry it away was stung "as many as 200 times." He says the boy "carried the dog as far as he could and then collapsed."

The injured boy was taken to a hospital for treatment. His condition was not released.

Park rangers planned to don beekeepers' suits to pick up the dog. (AP, 6/4/08.)

KILLER BEES STRIKE, INJURE HIKING BOY

CHATSWORTH, CA ---- A teenage boy who had been hiking with friends in Stoney Point Park in the Chatsworth area was hospitalized today after coming under attack by a swarm of bees whose stings killed a dog.

The incident was reported about 1 p.m. Tuesday near the 10000 block of Andora Avenue, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman d'Lisa Davies.

The five boys and a boxer named Rocky were hiking in the area when the attack occurred, Jane Kolb, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, told the Daily News. Rocky and the boys were stung numerous times.

One of the teens was stung "as many as 200 times" as he picked up the dog, who had suffered numerous stings, and carried it away from the hive, Chris Jones, the father of one of the boys, told KCAL9.

"He carried the dog as far as he could and then collapsed," Jones said. The bees continued to swarm, preventing Jones from retrieving the dog's body, according to KCAL9.

The boy who had tried unsuccessfully to rescue the boxer was taken to a hospital for treatment. His condition was not immediately released. (Long Beach Press-Telegram. 6/4/08.)

BEE SWARM ATTACKS HIKERS, KILLS DOG IN LA-AREA PARK

LOS ANGELES, CA ---- A swarm of bees stung a group of teenage boys hiking in a San Fernando Valley park Tuesday, sending one of them to the hospital and killing a dog that disturbed the beehive, authorities said.

The five boys and the dog, a Boxer named Rocky, were hiking in Stoney Point Park in Chatsworth when the attack occurred, Jane Kolb, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, said.

The bees stung Rocky and the boys numerous times, Kolb said.

One of the boys who tried to pick up the dog and carry it to safety was stung "as many as 200 times," Chris Jones, the father of one of the teenagers and the owner of Rocky, told KCAL-TV.

"He carried the dog as far as he could and then collapsed," Jones said.

The injured teen, Brian Magbitang, was taken to a hospital for treatment. He was given pain medication and released.

Magbitang told KCAL that he saw blood dripping from Rocky's mouth when he grabbed the dog. He said Rocky collapsed in his arm, and he later dropped the pet when "the bees were way too much. They were in my mouth and I tried to wave them off."

The bees continued to swarm near Rocky, prompting authorities to close access to the trail to go in and retrieve the downed animal. (AP, 6/3/08.)

BEES CAUSE DISTURBANCE IN WACO

WACO, TX --- A hive of Africanized bees got out of control in an East Waco neighborhood Friday evening sending three residents to the hospital.

Police shut down a 5 block radius around a home in the 300 block of Spring Street after a bee keeper tried removing the hive.

Witnesses' say they immediately started swarming one man was stung several times.

"Yeah it was pretty dangerous I've never seen bees swarm anybody like they did they were just coming all over us you know, there's a couple people who got bit they don't even know where to come get treated for it yet." Larry Thompson said.

Once the bees calmed down officials reopened the streets. The beekeeper says Africanized bees are a more aggressive form of the honey bee. (KCEN-TV/DT News 6, 5/30/08.)

STILLWATER BEES ARE NOT AFRICANIZED VARIETY

STILLWATER, OK ---- State entomologists have been "busy as bees" recently, after Africanized honey bees were thought to have been discovered in Payne County.

After further testing, it appears as though Africanized honey bees may not have come as far north as Payne County--at least, not yet.

"The bees collected in Stillwater tested positive for Africanized honey bee DNA," said Rick Grantham, director of Oklahoma State University's Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory. "Our preliminary tests came up positive."

The laboratory, part of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, works closely with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in the monitoring of insect-related issues in the state.

"As part of our normal procedure, we send positive samples to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Arizona for further verification," Grantham said.

USDA scientists perform a battery of measurements to further confirm whether or not samples are Africanized honey bees. After an extensive battery of measurements, the samples were determined to be European honey bees. The European variety is common throughout the United States, and is less aggressive than their Africanized cousins.

"The USDA results lend more evidence that hybridization is occurring between these two groups," Grantham said. "Our DNA test only indicates that, at some point, the honey bee collected has an Africanized queen in its lineage."

Grantham said when such a queen breeds with a European drone, Africanized traits may be reduced but the DNA will always indicate Africanized, essentially rendering a false positive during testing.

"It's always best to err on the side of caution," he said.

Africanized bees are more likely to attack perceived intruders simply because of noise from devices such as mowers and weed trimmers. In addition, they are likely to attack with up to 10 times more bees than a colony of European honey bees. Further complicating the situation is that these defensive bees have been known to pursue an intruder up to a quarter mile and stay agitated for up to an hour.

How about when the reverse occurs: a European queen mating with an Africanized drone?

"We can't detect this with a DNA test," Grantham said. "We generally only know about this type when a serious stinging incident occurs or when there are other signs present. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation."

Phil Mulder, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service entomologist, said people who are outdoors need to be aware of their surroundings and use caution in approaching any potentially dangerous situation involving honey bees.

Disturbing colonies of established bees of either variety poses the potential for a stinging attack; however, foraging honey bees are rarely a threat.

"If several honey bees are actively visiting blooms for nectar or pollen, they are usually quite harmless unless somebody attempts to threaten them," Mulder said. "Even then, they will often simply retreat or fly away."

Additional information on Africanized honey bees and related species is available through DASNR at http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ahb/ on the Internet, as well as the ODAFF website at www.state.ok.us/~okag/cps-beeshome.htm. (High Plains/Midwest Farm Journal, 6/2/08)

KILLER BEES GETTING CLOSER TO KANSAS

WICHITA, KS ---- They're getting closer.

This week experts confirmed that so-called killer or Africanized bees are within 60 miles of Kansas and they may be here this summer.

When bees swarm its Bill Vanduska's job to catch them.

Vanduska is on a short list of Kansas "swarm catchers" which means he not only catches the bees but checks to see if they're Africanized.

"When they are found I do know how to deal with them," Vanduska says.

In the past 5 years Africanized bees have migrated up from .

"The long range forecast is we'll probably see the Africanized bees go as far north as the Nebraska border and then on really cold winters they may be froze back to the Oklahoma border," said Vanduska.

Areas along the I-135 corridor are at highest risk.

"We've had a couple instances where bees hitchhiked rides on campers and semi trailers that have come up as far as Severy and perhaps Winfield," said Vanduska

That's what Brick Scheer was worried about when he ran across this swarm while mowing his back yard.

"I didn't know if they were African bees or American bees," he said. "I wouldn't know one from another but I was outnumbered about 5-thosuand to one and I didn't want to take a chance."

Africanized bees will attack. Get caught and the effects are dangerous.

"Because they are coming at you in such aggressive numbers, if you get stung 800 times to a thousand times you're gonna get really really sick," warns Vanduska.

That's why the Kansas Department of Agriculture recommends calling a beekeeper anytime you see a swarm.

Don't deal with it out on your own.

"Run the only thing on your mind is run. Run as long and far as you can," says Vanduska. (By Dana Hertneky, KSN-TV Wichita, 5/29/08.)

COUNTY'S FIRST RESPONDERS GET BEE TRAINING

ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NM --- Roosevelt County law enforcement and emergency personnel have a new worry when responding to area homes - Africanized honey bees.

Dealing with the aggressive and potentially deadly insects, which have been reported in the area since 2005, was the subject of a first responders seminar Thursday at Jake Lopez Community Center.

Fire department and EMS personnel would typically be the first responders during a bee attack or could encounter them in other emergency calls, according to officials.

"The main thing about Africanized bees is they are unpredictable," said Tom Lewis Hightower, owner of Southwest Pest Control.

He said the bees will attack the face first, concentrating on the eyes, mouth and nose.

"The most important thing to remember if you're attacked is to run," Hightower said. "One of our greatest fears is a hive being close to a school. When a child is stung they will sometimes freeze up and stay still, that is the worst idea. They need to get out of there as quick as possible."

The bees can not be distinguished from the less aggressive European honey bee until they are agitated.

"If a hive is in a residential area it is best not to aggravate the bees and alert the neighbors to the presence of the bees," Hightower said. "If the bees are agitated they will defend there hive and attack anything that moves within a half a mile radius."

Portales Fire Department Battalion Chief Lance Hill said they have not encountered any bees to date while making rescue attempts, but it is beneficial having the information about how to handle that kind of situation, Hill said.

"The information was helpful and refreshed our knowledge about what to do when we encounter a hive," Hill said. "We know that if we encounter a hive, we will leave it alone conduct our rescue and leave it for professionals to deal with."

The number of Africanized honey bees has increased in New Mexico since they were first discovered in 1993 in Hidalgo County. Since then they have been found in 12 counties in New Mexico according to an press release from New Mexico State University.

"The bees are sharing our environment they are moving and are setting up to stay," Hightower said.

"If you notice bees flying around your house acting aggressive or stranger than usual contact an official to have the bees checked out,"Hightower said.

Roosevelt County Extension Agent Patrick Kircher coordinated the seminar.

"I wanted first responders to have access to this information to be better prepared if they were to encounter the bees while working," Kircher said. (Thomas Garcia, PNTonline.com, 5/29/08.)

BEES SHUT DOWN PART OF MAIN AVENUE

ROBSTOWN, TX --- Main Avenue was shut down for a brief period Thursday while Robstown firefighters tried to remove a bee swarm from a nearby business.

Robstown police officer Filiberto Tagle said he was driving down Main Avenue about 12:30 p.m. when he noticed a swarm of bees on the wall of Floyd Insurance, located in the 400 block of Main Avenue.

Because the color of the bees was similar to the brownish tint of the brick that makes up the wall, the officer said the swarm would have been hard for most people to spot.

"You could see their shadows when they were moving around," Tagle said, adding that officers warned nearby businesses to stay indoors, while also helping some citizens to their cars.

Police closed off Main Avenue from Fourth to Fifth streets for nearly 45 minutes while Animal Control officers and Robstown firefighters gathered materials to dispose of the swarm.

Dishwashing liquid, rather than a pesticide, purchased from a nearby Dollar General was mixed with water and sprayed on the insects using one of the hoses from a fire truck by Animal Control.

"It's less expensive than the other stuff and it works just as good," Fire Chief Richard Gonzalez said about the dishwashing liquid.

No injuries were reported from the incident, officers said. For the owner of the business whose wall had been invaded, Eddie Floyd, that was good news.

"I didn't see (the swarm), but I'm glad they didn't sting anyone," Floyd said.

It was not immediately known whether the insects were regular or Africanized honey bees. (Tim Olmeda, Nueces County Record Star, 5/29/08.)

DON'T LET THE BEES BE!

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL ---- Thousands of homes have gone into foreclosure in Southwest Florida and some neighbors are the ones paying the price.

Jeanne Thomas of Port Charlotte says ever since her neighbors moved in November, the empty house has been infested with hundreds of bees.

"It's like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie," says Thomas.

Now, Thomas wants them removed.

"We don't know what they are," says Thomas. "If they're Africanized bees they swarm and they won't stop!"

Charlotte County officials say this is the homeowner's problem. But, these homeowners have moved and Thomas has run out of options.

It's an issue bee remover Keith Councell says he's been seeing more and more. Since last year, the amount of empty homes he's worked on have increased by 30%.

"A lot of times the owner still has it on there and it hasn't changed to the banks yet," says Councell.

Councell says sometimes he has to remove the bees first, and track down the owners later.

"If they can't find the property owner as in this case, they can call us we'll add it to the list and eventually something will be done," says Councell.

But, it's something that needs to happen fast for Jeanne Thomas, because the last thing she wants is to let the bees, be.

"Have them do whatever they have to," says Thomas. "Just get rid of these bees!" (Nicole Papageorge, WINK-TV 11, 5/29/08.)

BEES STING ONE MAN FIFTY TIMES

TUCSON, AZ --- A Tucson man was stung 50 times by bees at a south side intersection, police said.

The attack happened Wednesday near 12th and Irvington.

According to fire crews, two men discovered a hive and attempted to use a "bug bomb" to get rid of the bees. One man was stung about 50 times and taken to the hospital in stable condition.

Authorities said the other man was stung once or twice but refused medical treatment.

Four firefighters were also stung, though none required medical attention.

Firefighters used foam to kill the majority of the bees, but several still lingered around what used to be their hive the next day and appeared to still be defending it.

While a Tucson Fire spokesperson said they do not know yet what type of bees stung the men, and entomologist with the UA Extension says we can assume all bees are Africanized.

Experts say it's best to let professionals handle bees rather than take matters into your own hands. (KOLD News TV 13 Producer Stephanie Johnson and Jim Becker, Reporter, 5/29/08.)

MAN IN HOSPITAL, STUNG BY BEES MADDENED BY INSECT BOMB

TUCSON, AZ --- A Tucson business owner learned the hard way why it's best not to bomb a hive full of bees, a Tucson Fire Department spokesman said.

Capt. Norm Carlton said a call around 6 p.m. reported a man, who owns a business on South 11th Avenue near West Ohio Street, found a hive in a back room and tried to eradicate the bees with an insect bomb.

"The bee bomb just made the bees mad," Carlton said.

The man, whose name was not released, sustained about 50 bee stings and was taken to the hospital. His father, who was trying to help his son, also received numerous stings, but not enough to require hospitalization, Carlton said, adding "They're both fine."

He said the fire department is the right emergency aid entity to call in a bee situation that poses immediate danger or when bees are preventing people from entering - or fleeing - homes and other buildings.

Otherwise, Carlton advised, people should contact a bee removal service.

"Call a professional. Never try to deal with them yourself." (Ryn Gargulinski, Tucson Citizen, 5/29/09.)

2 MEN STUNG BY BEES; 1 VICTIM IS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

TUCSON, AZ --- A bee attack on the South Side sent one man to the hospital Wednesday evening.

At about 6 p.m., the Tucson Fire Department was called to the bee attack at a business on the corner of South 11th Avenue and West Ohio Street, said Capt. Norm Carlton, a department spokesman.

Two men discovered a hive in a back storage room and attempted to use a "bug bomb" to get rid of the bees, Carlton said.

"A very large hive was back there, and they went in and tried to take care of it on their own, which made the bees very angry, and they started swarming," Carlton said.

One man was stung about 50 times and was taken to a hospital in stable condition. The other was stung once or twice and refused medical treatment, Carlton said.

Firefighters then used foam to kill the majority of the bees. Carlton did not know what type of bees were involved. (Arizona Daily Star, 5/29/2008.)

BEES BUZZ TUCSON NEIGHBORHOOD

TUCSON, AZ --- In one local Tucson neighborhood when the humans moved out, the bees moved in. These pests have become well established and are creating serious problems for the neighborhood.

The owners walked away from their house a year ago. The bees are now terrorizing the entire area. The residents in the neighborhood say they feel helpless; they believe the homeowners association has just made it worse.

Brandi Comeau was hit extra hard by the bees infesting her neighborhood, "my dog Stubby was here by the door covered in bees and being attacked. He died last night at 10:30 p.m. with over 250 stings."

For Comeau, the death of her beloved dog was the last straw, and she remains at wits end.

Wednesday morning, the bees still swarm at the abandoned, foreclosed home next door. Even doing an interview proved daunting as the bees swarmed around us. We continued walking through the clouds of bees which are buzzing everywhere just a few feet from Comeau's front door.

According to Comeau, she will not bring her 11-week-old son outdoors.

Comeau says, "I'm afraid we might get attacked, it's one thing with a dog. It's another thing with a child, I won't go there."

Hundreds of dead bees litter the patio of the foreclosed home next door to Comeau, and thousands are swarming in abundance.

The homeowners association has made many attempts, all in vain, to solve the bee problem, which neighbors have been complaining about for two months.

"Actually the gentleman from the association was here spraying raid, and I did get upset," according to area resident Sheldon Rushing.

Rushing says," I don't know how to kill bees, I'm not a bee expert, but I don't think raids gonna do it."

When we attempted to contact the Country Crossing Homeowners Association, the doors were locked, the phone calls ended with a message machine, and we experienced the same thing that frustrated neighbors have been experiencing for weeks.

The homeowners association is trapped in a bureaucracy of rules, regulations and passing the buck, one phone call leads to the next, and the next.

Rushing says, "she has even called the mayor's office, the health department, the fire department, the sheriff's department, all were out here Tuesday night, but nothing's been done so far. Not one thing."

According to Northwest Fire officials, using raid on a bee hive is a very, very bad idea, there are so many rules covering foreclosed property, we couldn't even find the owner, or who holds the mortgage.

With West Nile virus season just around the corner, who will clean all those abandoned swimming pools at foreclosed homes?

This is all just part of the ripple effect with our current economy situation.

Authorities tell KOLD News 13, an exterminator came to the residence in question and removed the bee hives from the house Wednesday. (KOLD News TV 13 Political Specialist Bud Foster, 5/28/08.)

KILLER BEE COLONIZATION

Science New Magazine --- Ultra-aggressive Africanized bees, commonly known as "killer bees," haven't yet spread to some regions of the United States, but they could. A newly launched, three-year NASA project will combine satellite observations of plant growth and projections of how climate might change in coming years to estimate where Africanized bees could ultimately survive in the wild.

Africanized bees were introduced into the Western Hemisphere by accident: A stray swarm escaped in 1956 from a research station in Brazil where scientists were attempting to breed bees that possessed the tireless work habits of African bees and the docile nature of the European honeybee, now the backbone of most agricultural pollination. Unfortunately, the bees that escaped had a nasty disposition. They are no more poisonous than normal bees, but they are territorial, quick to attack and attack en masse.

Also, they quickly spread, says Wayne E. Esaias, a beekeeper who is also a biological oceanographer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

The bees swept through Central America and reached Texas in 1990. Some predictions had the bees reaching North Carolina by 1997, and others had them spreading all the way to the Canadian border, says Esaias. Contrary to expectations, most swarms migrated to the west after they'd breached the border, he notes. Today the bees are established in southern Florida and in a swath that stretches from Texas and southern Oklahoma westward to southern California, Esaias reported May 27 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., during a meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

So far, killer bees haven't spread to all regions of the United States considered climatologically suitable for them. One of the biggest mysteries, says Esaias, is why the bees haven't chosen to take advantage of the more productive and presumably more favorable environmental conditions in the Southeast. The key, he speculates, is that the bees are establishing themselves in areas filled with plants with blooming patterns that mirror those found in their ancestors' African homeland. For example, in the arid American Southwest, well-populated by the bees, many of the plants bloom profusely only after the rainy season begins.

Esaias and colleagues at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Md., recently compiled a county-by-county census of the continental United States that includes reports of where Africanized bees now survive in the wild. Using that data, researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey have compiled a map that depicts regions not yet occupied by the bees but considered suitable for them under today's climate conditions - areas that include northern Florida, southern Georgia, central Arkansas, southern Louisiana and the Central Valley of California. Analyses suggest that Africanized bees could even become established in parts of north central Oregon and southeastern Washington.

Researchers will soon modify the current estimates of which areas of the United States are killer-bee-friendly by incorporating NASA satellite observations of shifts in foliage patterns. The team's subsequent analyses will include the results of regional climate projections. Those analyses may reveal substantial areas previously unrecognized as suitable for Africanized bees, especially areas where invasive plant species favored by the bees are prevalent, Esaias says. (Sid Perkins, Science New Magazine, 5/28/08.)

AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES MAKE TEXAS THEIR HOME

EAST TEXAS ---- Bees have been very active this spring in East Texas. We need to remember that Africanized Honey Bees were located in Gregg and Harrison counties several years ago.

The Africanized Honey Bee, popularly know as the "killer bee" is now considered to be in the majority of the state of Texas. This insect, which has been migrating from South America since the 1950's, looks just like a domestic honeybee, but it is not nearly as good natured. In fact, it has a bit of a quick temper.

The domestic bee has lived in harmony with human beings for hundreds of years. It has been bred for gentleness and good honey production.

By contrast, the Africanized bee is a "wild" bee that is not comfortable being around people or animals. Any colony of bees will defend its hive, but Africanized bees do so with gusto. These bees are more likely to sense a threat at greater distances, become more upset with less reason, and sting in much greater numbers.

The Africanized bee's "killer" reputation is exaggerated, but it does have some basis in fact. In isolated instances, people and animals have been stung to death. Most often, the person who died was not able to get away from the bees quickly. Animal losses have occurred for the same reasons. Pets and livestock were tied up or penned when they encountered the bees.

However, Africanized bees do not roam in giant swarms looking for victims to attack. These bees react defensively only when they feel threatened.

The Africanized bees defend its nest far more intensively than does the European honey bee. The AHB responds quickly to disturbances by people and animals 50 feet or more from the nest, and can sense vibrations from power equipment 100 feet or more from the nest. AHB will chase an enemy up to a quarter mile or more.

We must hold a healthy respect for all bee colonies and swarms as potentially populated by over-defensive Africanized Honey Bees. Any wild swarms found near residences or close to domestic animals should be removed. In addition, we should do a bee inspection frequently around are homes and barns.

Bees will choose a nesting site many places where people may disturb them. Nesting cavities may include: buckets, cans, empty boxes, old tires, or any container ranging in volume from as little as 2 to 10 gallons and more. Bees will also choose infrequently used vehicles, lumber piles, holes and cavities in fences, trees, and the ground, in sheds, garages, and other outbuildings between walls or in the open, low decks or spaces under buildings.

If you find a swarm of bees on your property, stay away from the area and call a local bee keeper or pest control company for assistance. If you do get stung, pull or scrape the stingers from the skin as soon as possible. Most of the venom is released within 1 minute. Wash the stung area with soap and water to prevent infection. Apply ice to relieve pain and swelling. Seek medical attention if breathing is difficult, if stung many times or if allergic to bee stings. (Dennis Smith, East Texas Review, 5/28/08.)

BEE STRAIN CONFIRMED AS 'KILLER'

TULSA, OK --- Don't believe the buzz. Sure, a hybrid strain of Africanized bees was found in Stillwater this month and could be headed for Tulsa, if not already here, but local beekeepers are hardly surprised and only slightly alarmed.

The news may send shockwaves through a general public worried about death-dealing swarms suddenly stinging and maiming their way this far north. In truth, experts say, the Africanized breed probably will set up hives in the local area and life should go on with a small adjustment whenever that happens.

"It's ridiculous to think they're not coming to Tulsa," said Yuvonna Harrison, a north Tulsa beekeeper. "If you leave the bees alone, they'll leave you alone."

The first alarms sounded four years ago when Africanized bees were discovered in Oklahoma. The aggressive version, sometimes called "killer bees," had been making its way north from South America for decades, but some thought Oklahoma's winters might stop them cold.

Then many hoped that Interstate 40 was the last line of defense against the migration.

This month's discovery of Africanized hybrids at a Stillwater preschool proved that the insects may not be done moving through chillier climates.

In fact, Tulsa County is no farther north than Payne County. They may already be here but just haven't started stinging and swarming enough to be noticed, some say.

"I don't doubt it one bit," said Oklahoma State University entomologist Rick Grantham, whose lab conducted the first tests on the Stillwater bees. "They're like the fire ants in the progress northward."

And fire ants already have taken residence in Tulsa County, according to reports. Some beekeepers, like Harrison, believe that their bee populations will hold up just fine if the Africanized hybrids fly in.

"They make honey just like the European bees," said Harrison, a former Oklahoma Beekeepers Association president who helps oversee six yards' worth of hives in north Tulsa. But, of course, Africanized bees are a little more temperamental than their more gentle European counterparts.

"You want to handle the hives slowly and smoothly," she said. "Don't drop the hive tops on the ground; be a little careful."

The arrival of Africanized bees, if and when it happens, could make those Tulsa hives a little harder to maintain.

OBA President Kenny Hammond cited the strain's strength in numbers - their habit of attacking in a relentless type of gang warfare.

"The swarm is pretty docile, but when they get into a box they can turn into some kind of nasty," Hammond said. "They come at you by bunches, 15 to 20 times more than European colonies might."

Hammond still has doubts about the Africanized bees' suitability in Tulsa County or beyond. Cold snaps and ice storms might not get them, but the delayed spring blooming could be the killing blow.

"They're not known for storing large amounts of honey," he said. The late blooms "could starve them out."

The swarm's discovery earlier this month provided some answers, yet left more questions. The Stillwater bees were not predominantly Africanized, but their DNA suggested crossbreeding between strains a generation or more ago. A U.S. Department of Agriculture bee research lab in Arizona confirmed the hybrid status.

"It just means that at some point, an European honeybee bred with an Africanized bee," Grantham said. A troubling fact is that Africanized bees tend to take over populations wherever they go, he noted.

"What are the consequences of hybrid Africanized bees? We don't know," Grantham admitted. "One example is the state of Arizona, where there are no feral (wild) bees anymore; they're all Africanized."

Sounds scary, but the issue isn't all that black and yellow. Texas has lived with Africanized honeybees for nearly 20 years, but only a handful of Texans have been attacked.

"You're four times as likely to get struck by lightning and killed than by the sting of a honeybee," Grantham said. (Rod Walton, Tulsa World, 5/24/2008.)

UP TO 60 CALLS A DAY REPORTING TROUBLE WITH BEES

PHOENIX, AZ - Local bee keepers say they are getting up to 60 calls a day when it comes to dealing with bees.

More bees mean more people are at risk for attacks. Phoenix firefighters are trained for bee attacks and show up to incidents in full bee suits.

In the bee attack that took place Monday afternoon on South Mountain, it took nearly two hours before rescuers could lift the victim out of there.

The problem is it takes time for crews to hike up a mountain when someone is attacked and the victim was off the trail, making reaching him even more difficult.

Firefighters say they are constantly searching the trails looking for bee hives. There could be plenty hiding all around.

There is a spot on Camelback Mountain that firefighters have marked. It warns that a bee hive is nearby and if you look above that trail you can actually see the hive.

Nevertheless, firefighters say they only remove hives if they are dangerously close. (KTVK-TV, 5/20/08.)

HIKER SWARMED BY BEES, FALLS FROM TRAIL, IN CRITICAL CONDITION

PHOENIX, AZ -- A Valley hiker is still in the hospital after being air-lifted off South Mountain in the wake of a bee attack.

It happened Monday afternoon.

The man in his 30s was hiking off the trail when the bees swarmed him. He fell trying to get away from the bees. That's when they really went after him.

Other hikers heard the man screaming and tried to help. Several of them were stung dozens of times.
Rescue crews in bee suits were finally able to make their way to the injured hiker. Those firefighters said there were still hundreds of bees on the man, stinging him when they got him.

The man, whose name has not been released, was in critical condition when he was air-lifted to Good Samaritan Hospital. (KTVK-TV, 5/20/08.)

HIKER ATTACKED BY SWARM OF BEES

PHOENIX, AZ -- A man is still in the hospital Tuesday after a swarm of bees attacked him while hiking on South Mountain.

The man decided to hike off the trail down the south side of the mountain on Monday into a ravine when he was attacked by hundreds of bees, said Capt. Victor Rangel, Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson.

The man ran, but tripped and the onslaught escalated. Other hikers heard the man screaming and tried to help, but got stung in the process. They called 911 at about 6 p.m. and park rangers and Phoenix Police in the area quickly showed up.

Rangel said that saving the man was difficult despite the new, lightweight full-bodied bee suits the firefighters wore.

"We had to deal with the bees, the heat, and the ravine. It was a pretty difficult rescue," Rangel said.

After enduring rugged terrain to get to the man, fire officials used a portable pump can containing a soapy foam substance to kill the bees.

The man was secured in a gurney and pulled from the mountain onto a helicopter. He was flown to Good Samaritan Hospital. Officials did not release his name or condition Tuesday morning. (Philip Haldiman, The Arizona Republic, 5/20/08.)

THOUSANDS OF BEES THREATEN HOMEOWNER CHECKING ON CHILDREN

BEAUMONT, TX --- - A family in northwest Beaumont had to call a pest control company when thousands of bees took up residence outside of their home and threatened a mother who stepped outside to check on her children.

No one was stung.

Exterminators say honey bees are more likely to swarm in the spring and fall - but not the summer.

Here is Nicole Murray's report from 6News at Six:

Kids in one Beaumont neighborhood weren't allowed to play outside Sunday afternoon. That's because parents were worried they would get attacked by bees. Families who live on Jackie Lane in Northwest Beaumont stayed indoors when more than 3,000 honey bees invaded the neighborhood.

Homeowner Tia Roy said when she came outside Sunday Afternoon to check on her kids, she quickly realized she was under attack, "they started to form. It started really little and now it's huge." Roy said, "I opened my door and saw a swarm of bees and I was afraid and started yelling for my kids, my garage door was open and they were swarming. They hadn't started to form on the side of my house."

Roy and neighbors told their kids to get inside their homes. The bee hive formed within a matter of 30 minutes. Roy immediately called pest control.

Terry Leblanc owns Elite Custom Pest Control. He said, "they usually do that when they travel from one area to the next, It is possible they were clumped up like that to protect the queen."

He says he receives calls about bees once or twice a month especially during this time of year. Pest control companies say in Southeast Texas honey bees are more likely to swarm in the spring... not so much in the summer... and they come back when it cools off in the fall.

Leblanc said after determining the honey bees posed a small threat to the community he put on his protective gear and went to work. He said "I use a product that will kill the bees."

Roy said she has never seen anything like this and won't rest until all the bees are gone. Leblanc says all the bees should be gone by Monday evening. (KFDM TV 6 News, Nicole Murray, 5/19/08.)

MORE BEES COULD BE IN NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER ATTACK

AUSTIN, TX --- The tranquil Crestview neighborhood was punctured by chaos Saturday morning.

"I really didn't know what was going on. I came out about 11:00 and I saw the cars, the fire truck and the ambulance," said Frances Daugherty, neighbor.

Her neighbor, Raymond Moxley, 81, had been out mowing his lawn when he was attacked by a swarm of bees. It's unclear as to what type of bee was involved in the attack.

Africanized honey bees are common to Central Texas. There was nothing paramedics could do. The official cause of death has yet to be determined, but the bees are getting a lot of attention in this neighborhood.

"I have a niece who stays with me all the time, she plays in the backyard we're about to buy a swing set, so yeah, I'm a little concerned that something might be out there," said Christine O'Connor, neighbor.

Keith Huddle runs a professional bee removal service.

"We're actually seeing more attacks. Last year there were more than the year before," said Huddle.

And Huddle says there are probably several more hives in this neighborhood.

"The fact that that hive was aggressive -- means the hives around them are pretty aggressive -- and that is not the only hive with in the square mile," he says.

Huddle says bees often make their nests in large, old oak trees. They can also live under trailers and between the floors of multi-storied buildings.

The fact that there may be many more bees here has already crossed the minds of many people in this neighborhood.

"But now, everyone in this neighborhood is definitely be on the lurk. I just saw one pass and panicked," said Daugherty. (Amy Johnston, KVUE-TV News, 5/19/08.)

AUSTIN MAN DIES AFTER BEING STUNG 50 TIMES BY BEES

Man Dies From Bee Stings

AUSTIN, TX --- Austin police say an 81-year-old man was found dead with over 50 bee stings on his body. He had been mowing his lawn.

Police responded to a deceased person call around 10:50 a.m. Saturday in the 1700 block of Barbara Street. That's near the intersection of Burnet Road and West Anderson Lane in Northwest Austin.

The man was found lying on his bathroom floor by his wife, who called police. An autopsy showed that the deceased man had suffered the bee stings on his head, neck, and chest.

Police insist, however, "it has not been determined whether the bee stings caused or contributed to the decedent's death." Further tests are pending. (Rebecca Taylor, KEYE-TV CBS News 42, 5/18/08.)

BEES MAY HAVE KILLED MAN NEAR ANDERSON LANE

AUSTIN, TX -- On Saturday morning an 81-year-old man was mowing his yard 1700 block of Barbara Street near Anderson Lane shortly before 11:00 a.m. The man went inside his home and his wife heard a loud noise. She discovered him lying on the bathroom floor.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene when EMS arrived. Initially EMS suspected a heart attack and he was released to a funeral home. The funeral home began to inspect the body and discovered multiple bee stings.

The man's body was transported to the Travis County Medical Examiner's office for further examination by a doctor. An autopsy was performed and over 50 bee stings were discovered on the head, neck, and chest areas. The cause of death is being withheld pending further tests. It has not been determined whether the bee stings caused or contributed to the man's death.

The man's told the Medical Examiner's office that he was not aware of any problems with bees on the property but would investigate further.(KTBC Fox News 7, 5/18/08.)

BEES MAY HAVE STUNG MAN TO DEATH

AUSTIN, TX --- An elderly Austin man was found dead at his home with more than 50 bee stings to his body.

The 81-year-old man lived on the 1700 block of Barbara Street. Police say he was mowing his lawn around 10:45 Saturday morning when he was stung more than 50 times by bees. The victim's name was not immediately released, but family members tell police that he abruptly stopped mowing the lawn and went inside the house. His wife told police she found him moments later on the floor in one of the bathrooms unconscious. She called 911.

When EMS arrived he was already dead. Initially the crew thought the man died of a heart attack. His body was taken to a nearby funeral home. There, employees at the home found more than 50 bee stings over his head, neck and chest. They called the Travis County Medical Examiner's office and his body was taken in for an autopsy to determine whether or not the bee stings caused or caused his death. Family members searched the yard but told police they didn't find any bees nearby.

Pest control experts at ABC Pest and Lawn say it is the middle of bee season and they have seen the bee population grow across Austin. Those who live nearby the victim say they've seen bees in the yards nearby.

"One time I had it plugged up and they got trapped in my shop and there were thousands of bees that got in and were trying to get up against the wall," said neighbor John B. Carlon.

Now neighbors want the city to survey their community.

"We need somebody to come and check on it, because if this man was stung my neighbor said about 50 times, if there were that many bees there then we need to find a way to get rid of them," said neighbor Una Kunkel.

The victim's body is at the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, undergoing a full autopsy. It is still unknown what type of insects stung the man. (KVUE-TV, Jessica Vess, 5/18/2008.)

FAMILY ATTACKED BY BEES ON WEST SIDE

SAN ANTONIO, TX --- The bee attack happened in the 3000 block of Saunders Avenue.

Three people are in the hospital after bees, which were living in the walls of a home, attacked a family. In all, those bees attacked ten people at that home on Saunders on the west side.

"I'm like, 'Oh my God,'" said Carlos Olvere, who was stung by the bees. "I started running and I got stung like 20 or 30 times on my head."

Olvere heard screams and ran to his friends house, but quickly made a u-turn.

"I took off my shirt and the good thing it was wet and I just started swiping away," Olvere said.

Hundreds of bees, living in the walls of the house, erupted and began attacking everybody outside of the home. Three people were stung so bad, they had to be taken to the hospital. Firefighters sprayed foam and broke through the side of the house to kill the bees and destroy the hive.

About two hours after the attack, only a few stragglers were left.

A neighbor told firefighter that there's another giant bee hive in a shack near the house. Firefighters say they'll come back and destroy it before the bees have a chance to hurt anybody. (Ryan O'Donnell, WOAI-TV 4 News, 5/16/08.)

CORPUS CHRISTI MAN ATTACKED BY A SWARM OF BEES

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX --- It's that time again. Beware, it's bee season. A good reminder of that came his morning, as a CCISD grounds keeper was stung more than 50 times while mowing the grass around a district's athletic department building on Leopard. The building is no longer in use, and perhaps that made it a prime location for bees to set up shop.

The groundskeeper, Frank Corpus, says thankfully he didn't need to go to the hospital. He told Kiii News that he was mowing around the building when he felt a sting, then another, and another, and soon his face was covered with bees.

He did the right thing. He ran away from the scene, and didn't try to swat at the bees. Experts recommend wearing light colored clothing while doing yard work, because dark colors attract bees. And people should also know if they are allergic to bee stings. They should talk to their doctor about what to do in case of a sting.

Check your property before doing work in the yard. Humming engines from cars and mowers can irritate bees and cause them to swarm. (Richard Longoria, KIII-TV 3 News, 5/15/08.)

BEE-WARE: BEE SEASON IS HERE

MISSION, TX --- Every few weeks, the family property must be checked for killer bees.

The precaution was prompted after a swarm of Africanized bees claimed a life there in September.

Paul Compton, then 57, died in front of the small home on this rural plot north of Mission.

Paul and his 51-year-old brother, Lester, suffered from a mental handicap, and they had returned home from a doctor's appointment when thousands of bees swarmed them. Lester escaped. Paul did not.

Now, Lester's cousin Helen Hawkins and her father, Ezra Compton, take every precaution to ensure bees do not return.

Ezra, who checks on the disabled Lester about once a week, always sweeps the property for bees.

Authorities say this is just the type of precaution needed to keep bees at bay.

As the weather warms and summer approaches, the likelihood of bee attacks increases. So, Rio Grande Valley residents should be aware.</