LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Many FOX5 viewers have questions surrounding killer bees following a recent attack on a Henderson senior and his dog.
Killer bees have been present for some time in Southern Nevada but remain a threat to public health, according to state officials.
WHAT ARE KILLER BEES?
Killer bees are a hybrid of African bees and European honey bees, known as “Africanized bees.
In the 1950’s, honey producers imported African bees into Brazil in the hopes of creating a hybrid bee to boost production; African bees reproduce much faster but also move in larger swarms.
After escaping from hives, the Africanized “killer” bees made their way through South and Central America, then into Mexico and eventually the U.S. in the 1990s.
Killer bees are an established presence in 13 states including Nevada. Killer bees congregate in primarily Southern and warmer climates, from California to Texas and Florida.
WHY ARE KILLER BEES DANGEROUS?
“Africanized bees are a threat because of the increased aggression that they display and the tenacity which they’ll defend their colonies. It’s much greater than what a normal honey bee or a European honey bee colony would do,” said Ray Saliga, deputy administrator for the Division of Plant Health and Compliance for the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
Killer bees react to disturbances ten times faster than European honey bees, state officials said.
In 2002, a “quarantine” was put in place to stop the movement of the species outside Clark, Nye and Lincoln Counties.
“Africanized bees are defined as a ‘disease of honey bee colonies’ by Nevada law. If they’re encountered as a colony, rather than removing or relocating them, they should be destroyed to prevent the spread and further disbursement of Africanized bees,” said Ray Saliga, deputy administrator for the Division of Plant Health and Compliance for the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
HOW CAN I TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A KILLER BEE AND A HONEY BEE?
It’s difficult to visually tell the difference between a killer bee and other honey bee species; it would take an entomologist to examine specimens under a microscope.
State officials note that killer bees can be immediately distinguished by the “aggressive” nature of their attack.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM SWARMED?
People who are being attacked must run a quarter of a mile to escape, state officials said; killer bees are known to pursue people for much longer distances.
“Africanized bees will follow any disturbance for a much longer distance. They’ll respond with a much higher number of bees rather than a few. You’ll see many more, and they’ll persist for a longer period. So if you encounter a swarm, you should go in the opposite direction. Move quickly, run if you can and put enough distance between you and the colony,” Saliga said.
Do not spray killer bees with water or any substance; it will only aggravate them.
Do not jump into a pool the bees will only wait for you to surface.
WHAT IF THERE ARE KILLER BEES ON MY PROPERTY?
Call a professional licensed with the Nevada Department of Agriculture. who is trained to assess and tackle the swarm.
Keep your distance.
“Just give them wide berth. It’s just as dangerous as a rattlesnake: give it as much respect as you would for that type of critter,” said Daniel Millett, the owner of local company The Bee Master of Las Vegas.
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