Africanized Honey Bees ("killer bees")
My-Dog.info > Dog Diseases, Bites, Worms & Ticks
Protecting Your Pets and Livestock
Africanized honey bees (the so-called "killer bees")
arrived in Arizona in 1993. Some colonies of Africanized honey
bees defend their nests with more vigor and in greater numbers
than the common European honey bee. When bees defend their
colonies, they target furry and dark-colored objects that
resemble their natural enemies: bears and skunks. Therefore your
pets are likely to be stung when bees are disturbed. Animals that
are penned or tied up near honey bees are in special peril.
About Africanized honey bees:
Honey bees are about 5/8-inch long, brown, hairy insects with
black encircling their abdomen, giving them a subtle striped
appearance. All honey bees look alike. Only an expert can tell
them apart.
The sting from a single Africanized honey bee is no more
harmful than one form the common garden or European honey bee.
Africanized honey bees are known as the so-called "killer
bees" because they defend their nests more readily (with
less provocation), and in larger numbers than the European honey
bee, so there is a greater chance of receiving many stings.
Do's and Dont's:
- Do look regularly for bee colonies
around your property. Honey bees nest in a wide variety
of locations. They may nest in such diverse sites as
animal burrows in the ground, water meter boxes, or in
overturned flower pots. Sometimes honey bees may nest in
the open trees or shrubs. Look for active bees and listen
for a buzzing or humming sound in the ground, in trees
and shrubs, or in block walls. If you find a colony of
bees, consult the Yellow Pages for beekeepers or pest
control operators who will remove it.
- Do not pen, tie, or tether animals near
known bee hives or nests. Keep animals away form apiaries
and bee nests. Bees may seem docile at first, but don't
take chances.
- Do not disturb or tease bees EVER, and
do not try to remove bees yourself. Do not shoot at,
throw rocks at, or pour gasoline on bee nests. This will
only arouse the bees. Also, do not attempt to control
them with aerosol pesticides.
- Do keep pets and children indoors when
using weed eaters, hedge clippers, tractors, power
mowers, chain saws, etc. Honey bees are sensitive to
odors, such as the smell of cut grass, and to loud
vibrations. Attacks frequently occur when a person is
mowing the lawn or pruning shrubs and trees and
inadvertently strikes a bee nest.
- Do keep dogs under control when hiking.
A dog bounding through the brush is more likely to
disturb bees than one following quietly at your heels.
- Do stay alert when horse-back riding
through brush or under low hanging branches where bees
might nest.
What to do if your animal is involved in a serious stinging
incident:
Try to get the animal away from the bees WITHOUT ENDANGERING
YOURSELF. Call your dog inside your house or car, or release the
animal IF IT WILL NOT HARM THE ANIMAL OR OTHERS NEARBY. Do not
attempt to approach a person or an animal being stung without
some sort of protection (such as a bee keeper's suit) because the
bees are likely to attack you as well. If you approach an animal
that is being stung, remember that an injured animal may bite or
attack unexpectedly. If you release penned livestock, be aware
that an unrestrained animal may run into the road and be hit by a
car, or may run away. And if the animal runs to you with aroused
bees following it, you are likely to be stung.
If possible, douse the animal with a shower of soapy water
which will kill any bees clinging to it. A mild solution of
liquid dish detergent in water (approximately 1/2 cup soap per
gallon of water) will immobilize honey bees and kill them within
60 seconds.
Covering the animal with a heavy blanket during a serious
stinging incident may also discourage the bees.
Once the animal is away from bees look for stingers. When a
honey bee stings, it loses its venom sac and stinger. This means
the honey bee dies after it stings, but also that the stinger may
continue to inject venom for up to a minute or until the stinger
is remove. If you can see stingers on the animal, remove them by
scraping them out with a credit card, knife or fingernail. Do not
pull them out with tweezers or fingers because you will squeeze
more venom into the animal.
If an animal has sustained numerous stings, you may want to
consult your veterinarian. The number of stings an animal can
survive depends on its body weight, the amount of venom it
received, and whether or not it is allergic to bee venom. As with
humans, even one sting may be dangerous if the animal is
allergic.
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