Abolish - Bee Control Division

  Unlike the European honey bee, the Africanized bee can be easily aggravated. The killer bee has been on a journey from South America to North America since 1957. The first reported case in the USA was in 1990 by 1994 they reached California, and moving at a rate of 200 miles per year you would think they would have overwhelmed the continent by now. Their expansion rate has been drastically reduced thanks to professional bee control companies who have crews specializing in bee control.

 

 

 

BEE ALERT
- Beware the Busy Bee

Most bees found in California are earnest, hard working types who much prefer the joys of simple labor to swaggering around like a schoolyard bully looking for people to intimidate.

Having their work interrupted or their flight path blocked by a hysterical human flailing away like a windmill is not their idea of a good time. Doing so may frighten or irritate them into stinging whoever is doing the flailing.

 

Identify your enemy

    European bees for the most part are not a threat unless aggravated. Aggravation will occur if they feel their hive is in danger. Swatting at flying bees is not recommended since all you will accomplish is to aggravate them. Unlike the European honey bee, the Africanized bee does not need an excuse to attack. They protect their hive and queen at a larger radius. Again, unlike the European honey bee, the Africanized bee may pursue intruders for up to a mile and remain aggravated for up to 24 hours

    The most common stinging bee in California is the honey bee, introduced into this country from Europe in the 17th century. Its stinger, which resembles a hypodermic needle with barbs, is used to inject a mixture of alkali venom and acid into the skin. The alkali venom contains several kinds of proteins and enzymes which are believed to cause allergic reactions of varying degrees in humans. Sting reactions, which may increase with succeeding stings, include:

• A choking sensation or difficulty in breathing.
• A skin rash similar to hives (human hives, not bee hives).
• A dry cough, sneezing or asthma.
• Lips turning blue.
• A rapid pulse and a drop in blood pressure.

More severe reactions may include cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, shock or loss of consciousness. Symptoms usually appear within a few minutes after a sting, but could be delayed up to 24 hours. Stings near the eyes, nose and throat are the most dangerous. For severe reactions, medical assistance should be sought immediately.

When stung by a bee, the stinger should be removed as quickly as possible, but removing it improperly will make the sting worse, The proper way is to scrape the stinger out with a clean fingernail or knife. Pulling or squeezing the stinger will only pump more venom into the wound, as the bee parts containing the venom are left attached to the stinger after the bee tears itself free.

The sting area should be cleaned with soap and water, or with an antiseptic. For people known to have severe reactions who are stung on the arms or legs, a tourniquet may be applied between the wound and the heart to prevent the rapid spread of venom. The tourniquet should be released every three to five minutes until medical help is available.

In the past few years, a small number of Africanized "killer bees" have been found in the southern San Joaquin Valley, having migrated from Brazil. Because of cross-breeding in South America, they are now known as Brazilian honey bees.

Killer bees are dangerous despite the new name, They will attack anything moving within 100 yards of their nest without provocation, and will chase a running target much farther than less excitable varieties of bees.

In appearance, killer bees resemble any other honey bee. It's their attitude that sets them apart. They are now a problem in California.

Bees are affected by the type of clothing people wear. for some reason, rough and dark clothing of wool or leather irritats them, which is why professional bee keepers wear light colored, smooth textured clothes when tending their hives. Some perfumes also aggravate bees, which will attack a moving target faster than they will an immobile one. Running or swatting at them only increases the chances of a sting.

So when a bee draws near, try to relax. It will probably lose interest in you once it finds out you are not a gladiola -- or an enemy.