[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Africanized bees! (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 5/29/2014 10:05:41 AM EDT
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I saw some sensationalized documentary on killer bees a few weeks ago and I was surprised to see those bees had spread so much throughout the U.S. Of course while working in my yard I hear a swarm of bees working on getting nectar from my magnolia tree which was probably 20 feet behind me.
My question is how bad/killer are the africanized honey bees and will they really attack you if your tooling around your yard like most people do on sunny days? Thanks for the help hive, no pun intended. |
That's right. The killer bees are coming to get you!!! There's nothing you can do. The end is nigh and they're bringing Johnny Cochran with them!!!!!!!!!!!
Serious Answer: Yes. they will swarm in seconds. Extremely aggressive for the most part. Some breeders have tried crossing them with european bees. Not sure how that worked out. |
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If you harm one it will send out a pheromone and the rest will go into OMFG attack mode. That's about right. Africanized honeybees are extremely aggressive. All bees send out the pheromone thing when one gets killed but the African bees are far more sensitive to this. Beekeepers have found that if they get an African contingent in their hives, it's the result of an Africanized queen. They kill the queen and put a docile one in its place. After a few weeks, the hive stabilizes. |
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My babee din do nuffin! Quoted:
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If you harm one it will send out a pheromone and the rest will go into OMFG attack mode. Groan...that was bad. Ain't askeered of no African bees, I live in yellowjacket country. 
At least the bees make honey, but all yellowjackets do is fuck shit up. |
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them.
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As with nearly any bee, they have to be provoked to attack. They won't just randomly attack. They have the reputation they do because they are more defensive, will attack in lager numbers, farther from their hive, and will pursue a perceived threat over a longer distance than a typical honeybee. Fortunately, they are incapable of overwintering in colder climates, so they will be unlikely to proliferate much more than they have. Already in Mexico and South America, Afican bees have become domesticated and have lost much of their aggressive traits.
ETA - the African bee is the same species as other honey bees. They are a hybrid that has certain aggressive traits that have been passed on through a dominant genome. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone. |
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. I don't want to mess with anything that can sting me. But they have to stay outside, just about my only rule for bugs and critters. |
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They ARE dangerous and they will mess you up.
There was a guy a year or so ago that was shredding a pasture and got hit by a swarm... he died shortly after. http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/03/us/texas-bee-attack/ http://www.ksat.com/news/africanized-bees-kill-eagle-pass-man/25414692 http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/3209/20130729/30-000-killer-bees-attack-texas-couple-kill-two-horses.htm |
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Yes!
They will chase your ass down with extreme prejudice! I luckily got away with only three stings after I accidentally disturbed this decking not realizing that underneath this hive of Africanized bees had set up home. I realized what was going on and ran like hell with several hundred chasing me, I made it to an outdoor public restroom where I holed up for half an hour before I was safe. This was at the airport behind my workshop: 
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They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them Quite the contrary. There have been at least 3 deaths in Arizona attributed to "killier bees", and at least that many attacks per year here. Most attacks result in multiple stings ranging from 30 to well over a 100. In most cases the attacks required hospitalization. It's not as common as the fear mongers would have people believe, but they do happen. Took this pic last month while out walking Dawg. Colony on the move, no way to tell if they were Africanized, but then again I wasn't going to poke at it either! 
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html |
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Quite the contrary. There have been at least 3 deaths in Arizona attributed to "killier bees", and at least that many attacks per year here. Most attacks result in multiple stings ranging from 30 to well over a 100. In most cases the attacks required hospitalization. It's not as common as the fear mongers would have people believe, but they do happen. Quoted:
They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them Quite the contrary. There have been at least 3 deaths in Arizona attributed to "killier bees", and at least that many attacks per year here. Most attacks result in multiple stings ranging from 30 to well over a 100. In most cases the attacks required hospitalization. It's not as common as the fear mongers would have people believe, but they do happen. I'm guessing if your one of those people who's allergic to stings you better bend over and kiss yourself goodbye. |
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Quoted: Buy stock in Johnson and Johnson now! http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/04/65/00/51/0004650051367_500X500.jpg Sevin dust. I've killed four of these fucking hives so far, last two years. |
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Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html Quoted:
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. Their is a certain level o irrational fear based on a lack of education on the matter and emotional response. |
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Quite the contrary. There have been at least 3 deaths in Arizona attributed to "killier bees", and at least that many attacks per year here. Most attacks result in multiple stings ranging from 30 to well over a 100. In most cases the attacks required hospitalization. It's not as common as the fear mongers would have people believe, but they do happen. Took this pic last month while out walking Dawg. Colony on the move, no way to tell if they were Africanized, but then again I wasn't going to poke at it either! http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy47/Gunslinger8O8/bees2.jpg Quoted:
They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them Quite the contrary. There have been at least 3 deaths in Arizona attributed to "killier bees", and at least that many attacks per year here. Most attacks result in multiple stings ranging from 30 to well over a 100. In most cases the attacks required hospitalization. It's not as common as the fear mongers would have people believe, but they do happen. Took this pic last month while out walking Dawg. Colony on the move, no way to tell if they were Africanized, but then again I wasn't going to poke at it either! http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy47/Gunslinger8O8/bees2.jpg That's like finding a $100 bill on the ground. Nearly any bee keeper would happily catch that swam. |
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I saw some sensationalized documentary on killer bees a few weeks ago and I was surprised to see those bees had spread so much throughout the U.S. Of course while working in my yard I hear a swarm of bees working on getting nectar from my magnolia tree which was probably 20 feet behind me. My question is how bad/killer are the africanized honey bees and will they really attack you if your tooling around your yard like most people do on sunny days? Thanks for the help hive, no pun intended. Yes they will. In 1991 I was living in Los Frenos, TX ( just north of the border with Mexico) It was the place where the 1st killer bee death had happened. It was a black lab. his owner was cutting grass, vibe pissed them off and they attack the color black..... |
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More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. Quoted:
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. He said "one" and showed him he was mistaken. I'd love to have you near a hive hand you a stick and see if you'd go give it a whack. Then we'd see how bad ass you are... |
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Quoted: If you harm one it will send out a pheromone and the rest will go into OMFG attack mode. I'm not sure but if you are close to their hive it may not even take squashing one. I put on a fencing mask with a jacket and went and burned them out. |
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He said "one" and showed him he was mistaken. I'd love to have you near a hive hand you a stick and see if you'd go give it a whack. Then we'd see how bad ass you are... Quoted:
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. He said "one" and showed him he was mistaken. I'd love to have you near a hive hand you a stick and see if you'd go give it a whack. Then we'd see how bad ass you are... I'm not badass around bees. I said you leave them alone and they leave you alone. I would hand your stick back to you and tell you to be foolish some place else. You are correct that more than one has died. I merely said that one is more likely to be struck by lightning than to die from African bees and I am correct. It is an irrational fear. |
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More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. Their is a certain level o irrational fear based on a lack of education on the matter and emotional response. Quoted:
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. Their is a certain level o irrational fear based on a lack of education on the matter and emotional response. While I was running my fucking ass off from a swarm of (according to the exterminator) "Africanized Bees", I can assure you my fear of being attacked by Africanized Bees was NOT irrational!!! 
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I'm not badass around bees. I said you leave them alone and they leave you alone. I would hand your stick back to you and tell you to be foolish some place else. You are correct that more than one has died. I merely said that one is more likely to be struck by lightning than to die from African bees and I am correct. It is an irrational fear. Quoted:
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. He said "one" and showed him he was mistaken. I'd love to have you near a hive hand you a stick and see if you'd go give it a whack. Then we'd see how bad ass you are... I'm not badass around bees. I said you leave them alone and they leave you alone. I would hand your stick back to you and tell you to be foolish some place else. You are correct that more than one has died. I merely said that one is more likely to be struck by lightning than to die from African bees and I am correct. It is an irrational fear. No, that's not what you said. You said that "People who fear African Bee attacks remind you of liberals who fear handguns", insinuating that any of us who actually live where these little fuckers live and are familiar with them and how dangerous an encounter can be, remind you of liberals who fear guns. Well bad ass, come on down and poke a nest and we'll see if you fear an African bee attack.... ETA: As a matter of fact I'll give you two crisp $100 bills if I can watch you and this bad-assery!! Please. |
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Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html Quoted:
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html 14 deaths in 14 years! Wow! I'd be willing to bet horses killed that many in 14 months. |
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Quoted: That's like finding a $100 bill on the ground. Nearly any bee keeper would happily catch that swam. Quoted: Quoted: They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them Quite the contrary. There have been at least 3 deaths in Arizona attributed to "killier bees", and at least that many attacks per year here. Most attacks result in multiple stings ranging from 30 to well over a 100. In most cases the attacks required hospitalization. It's not as common as the fear mongers would have people believe, but they do happen. Took this pic last month while out walking Dawg. Colony on the move, no way to tell if they were Africanized, but then again I wasn't going to poke at it either! http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy47/Gunslinger8O8/bees2.jpg That's like finding a $100 bill on the ground. Nearly any bee keeper would happily catch that swam. |
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Quoted: That's about right. Africanized honeybees are extremely aggressive. All bees send out the pheromone thing when one gets killed but the African bees are far more sensitive to this. Beekeepers have found that if they get an African contingent in their hives, it's the result of an Africanized queen. They kill the queen and put a docile one in its place. After a few weeks, the hive stabilizes. Quoted: Quoted: If you harm one it will send out a pheromone and the rest will go into OMFG attack mode. That's about right. Africanized honeybees are extremely aggressive. All bees send out the pheromone thing when one gets killed but the African bees are far more sensitive to this. Beekeepers have found that if they get an African contingent in their hives, it's the result of an Africanized queen. They kill the queen and put a docile one in its place. After a few weeks, the hive stabilizes.  |
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Quoted: More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. Their is a certain level o irrational fear based on a lack of education on the matter and emotional response. All you have to do is get within a hundred feet or so of the and they WILL come at you and not stop. They are relentless bastards. Its not a fear of death, its a fear of getting the shit stung out of you by a few dozen bees. That hurts. You have no fear? Bullshit, if you walked near them and they all started darting towards your face, I bet you haul ass. Fear of getting stung is NORMAL. Africanized or not. Unless everyone were a badass honey badger like yourself. |
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If you find a honey bee hive on your land you don't want, try and find a beekeeper, rather than burning them out.
Acricanized honey bees are just more aggressive honey bees. Unless you are allergic as long as you keep your head and run away and don't panic and stay in place flailing you should be fine. I have been swarmed by both yellow jackets and honey bees. It sucks but it ain't the end of the world. Edit to add commas. |
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Quoted: If you find a honey bee hive on your land you don't want try and find a beekeeper rather than burning them out. Acricanized honey bees are just more aggressive honey bees. Unless you are allergic as long as you keep your head and run away and don't panic and stay in place flailing you should be fine. I have been swarmed by both yellow jackets and honey bees. It sucks but it ain't the end of the world. |
While on patrol in the very lush countryside of Panama, circa 1988, I and two other patrol bretheren were attacked with reckless abandon by a hive of killer bees. Moral of this is they will hunt and kill you. Took us two hours to get the rest of the patrol back together along with pulling 13 stingers out of my now swollen basketball-sized head.
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Damn right I don't. Bastards wanted to charge me up the ass for essentially a free swarm. I burned them instead. Quoted:
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If you find a honey bee hive on your land you don't want try and find a beekeeper rather than burning them out. Acricanized honey bees are just more aggressive honey bees. Unless you are allergic as long as you keep your head and run away and don't panic and stay in place flailing you should be fine. I have been swarmed by both yellow jackets and honey bees. It sucks but it ain't the end of the world. That is shitty. I have a buddy who keeps bees. He, and most of the beekeepers he knows, would happily show as soon as the could to snag them for free. It is a lot cheaper than buying another colony. |
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While I was running my fucking ass off from a swarm of (according to the exterminator) "Africanized Bees", I can assure you my fear of being attacked by Africanized Bees was NOT irrational!!! Quoted:
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I believe that since the "KILLER BEES!!!!" scare started in the early nineties, there has been approximately one death (80 yo guy walking his dog) attributed to aggressive africanized bees (also a couple of dogs). Don't remember where I saw that, maybe Stossel or the science channel. They are not dangerous, but don't mess with them. Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. Their is a certain level o irrational fear based on a lack of education on the matter and emotional response. While I was running my fucking ass off from a swarm of (according to the exterminator) "Africanized Bees", I can assure you my fear of being attacked by Africanized Bees was NOT irrational!!! Agreed. My point is that to go into hysterics absent any bee attack is irrational. Your fear is founded. Statistically speaking you have been struck by lightning. |
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They ARE dangerous and they will mess you up. There was a guy a year or so ago that was shredding a pasture and got hit by a swarm... he died shortly after. http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/03/us/texas-bee-attack/ That guy was kin to my co-driver. |
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No, that's not what you said. You said that "People who fear African Bee attacks remind you of liberals who fear handguns", insinuating that any of us who actually live where these little fuckers live and are familiar with them and how dangerous an encounter can be, remind you of liberals who fear guns. Well bad ass, come on down and poke a nest and we'll see if you fear an African bee attack.... ETA: As a matter of fact I'll give you two crisp $100 bills if I can watch you and this bad-assery!! Please. Quoted:
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Not sure where you got your info but they've killed quite a few more than "one". They are dangerous and not to be messed with. Here is just one source stating 14 deaths from 1990-2004. http://westmtnapiary.com/africanized_bees.html More people have died from lightning strikes in that same time frame and in nearly all instances the victim disturbed to colony. People who fear African bee attacks remind me of liberals who fear handguns. He said "one" and showed him he was mistaken. I'd love to have you near a hive hand you a stick and see if you'd go give it a whack. Then we'd see how bad ass you are... I'm not badass around bees. I said you leave them alone and they leave you alone. I would hand your stick back to you and tell you to be foolish some place else. You are correct that more than one has died. I merely said that one is more likely to be struck by lightning than to die from African bees and I am correct. It is an irrational fear. No, that's not what you said. You said that "People who fear African Bee attacks remind you of liberals who fear handguns", insinuating that any of us who actually live where these little fuckers live and are familiar with them and how dangerous an encounter can be, remind you of liberals who fear guns. Well bad ass, come on down and poke a nest and we'll see if you fear an African bee attack.... ETA: As a matter of fact I'll give you two crisp $100 bills if I can watch you and this bad-assery!! Please. Yes, I did write that, and you took it out of context. If you are going around in dire fear of bee attacks, then in my opinion you are exhibiting an irrational fear not unlike liberals and hand guns. As for the stick challenge I already told you, don't bother the bees and they will leave you alone. Having been in areas where there are African bee colonies, I did the rational thing and stayed away from them. Not surprisingly, I wasn't attacked. |
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If you harm one it will send out a pheromone and the rest will go into OMFG attack mode. That's about right. Africanized honeybees are extremely aggressive. All bees send out the pheromone thing when one gets killed but the African bees are far more sensitive to this. Beekeepers have found that if they get an African contingent in their hives, it's the result of an Africanized queen. They kill the queen and put a docile one in its place. After a few weeks, the hive stabilizes. Great movie! 
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While on patrol in the very lush countryside of Panama, circa 1988, I and two other patrol bretheren were attacked with reckless abandon by a hive of killer bees. Moral of this is they will hunt and kill you. Took us two hours to get the rest of the patrol back together along with pulling 13 stingers out of my now swollen basketball-sized head. I believe you. They attacked me in the state of Trujillo, Venezuela. I got lucky in that they only got my ear and right arm. 
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