Honey bee or Africanized? Photo by Carla DeMarco

Welcome or not, the Africanized Honey Bee (AHB), that "bee with an attitude," has arrived in Southern New Mexico. Most towns in the lower elevations have reported attacks, and even Silver City, at 6,000 feet, has not been exempt. The first attack there occurred Sept. 23, 1996 when three chained dogs in North Hurley were killed by bees later confirmed as the Africanized variety. In October, a Cliff farmer, attacked while operating his tractor beneath some Cottonwood trees, suffered more than 80 stings.

"We've tested quite a few samples and found so many confirmed in the county we've quit sending them in," said county extension director, Ron Lamb.

What are Africanized Honey Bees?

The AFB is a wild strain of the honey bee whose populations have evolved under different environmental conditions from the European (domestic) Honey Bee. To the untrained eye, the AFB looks no different from the EHB, and its venom is no more poisonous.

Africanized Honey Bees earned their nickname "killer bees" because of their deadly attacks on people and domestic animals in defense of their hives. They are more likely than European Honey Bees to attack for less provocation and they strike in greater numbers. They pursue victims for a longer time and distance and take longer to calm down afterwards. They swarm more frequently to establish new nests. Away from the hive, they are no more aggressive than other honey bees.

A little history

The AFB was first introduced into Brazil in 1956 in an attempt to improve honey production in the tropics. It was accidentally introduced into the wild in October of 1957 when a swarm escaped from a research project. The bees reproduced and have since been moving northward about 200 to 300 miles per year. They reached Mexico by the 1980's. The first AFB attack in the United States was on Oct. 15, 1990, in Hidalgo, Texas. Since then, the strain has been found across the Southwest and in California.

Since its release in the Americas, the AHB has been considered responsible for many deaths, both human and domestic livestock. The easily irritated bees have attacked people operating machinery and watching soccer games. Swarms have invaded churches and movie theaters. The AHB poses a serious agricultural threat by interfering with the keeping of more docile European bees for crop pollination purposes.

Where do they live?

Africanized bees will start a hive almost anywhere they can find shelter. They are likely to be found in trees, the sides of buildings, drain pipes, park benches, culverts, water meter boxes, old abandoned appliances, holes in the ground and under vehicles. A swarm of thousands of bees can start a hive in a new location in minutes.

Bee smart, don't bug bees

The best defense against the AFB is caution. Be alert for signs that a hive has been started in your area such as the sound of humming bees and increased bee activity.

When bees swarm, they are looking for a new home. If you see a swarm, don't disturb it. Watch where the bees settle, then call a pest control agent to extinguish the hive. Leave bees gathering nectar from flowers alone.

Be alert for bees entering and exiting openings and cracks. Watch out for bees in holes in the ground, holes in trees or cacti and in sheds. Be extra careful when moving junk that has been lying around.

Be alert for bees that are acting strangely. Often, bees will display some preliminary defensive behavior before going into a full-fledged attack. If a bee buzzes around you, stay calm. Observe your surroundings to see if you may be approaching a hive. Slowly move away from any possible nesting ground.

Watch you

r step. If you have a soft drink, be careful a bee hasn't flown into its opening. Bees are more likely to attack dark colored clothing and the color blue. Avoid wearing aftershave, perfume, hair spray, or other fragrant products.

Bee prepared

Protect your feet with shoes. Consider carrying a small handkerchief or mosquito net device that fits over the head. Bees target the head and eyes. Any impairment of your vision will make escape more difficult.

Be especially alert around loud machinery; the noise and vibration can irritate bees. African bees have been known to become riled by the odor of newly-cut grass.

Check around your house and yard every two weeks for signs of bee colonies. Hives are usually located near sources of food, water and shelter. If you find a hive, keep your family and pets away and call a certified pest control agent.

The best way to protect yourself against the AFB is to not let hives form. Seal all areas in your home that may be small enough for bees to enter. Fill cracks in walls with steel wool and caulk. Remove piles of junk. Honey bees will nest in an old tire or an overturned flower pot. Fill holes in the ground and cover the hole in your water valve box.

Place a bee screen over your chimney and make sure all attic vents are covered with wire mesh. Make pet water and bird baths less attractive by adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water. Place a few ounces of pine-scented liquid cleaner in your evaporative cooler's water.

Prepare yourself mentally before an attack by knowing what to do. Have an escape plan in mind when outdoors. Teach your children to run if attacked; their response is often to freeze.

If attacked

If attacked, cover your face with your arm, shirt or jacket and run away from the hive. If you don't know where the hive is, run in the opposite direction from which the bees are attacking. The bees can attain speeds of 12 to 15 miles per hour but most healthy people can outrun them. Do not flail your arms. If you are far from shelter, try to run through tall brush to confuse and slow the bees. Africanized bees have followed people for more than a quarter mile.

If you were working in a sealed vehicle, stay inside and drive away from the area. Do not drive toward unprotected co-workers. If the vehicle is unsealed, turn it off and run for indoor shelter or a car. Put the air conditioner on high to slow the bees that pursue you into the car.

Do not jump into water! The bees will wait for you to come up for air.

If you see someone being attacked call 911. Direct victims toward shelter but don't approach them.

First aid

If you are going to be in a rural area alone, away from your vehicle, consult your doctor beforehand about emergency bee sting medications you can carry with you.

Call 911 if you have been seriously attacked and cannot get to a medical facility. If you have received more than 5 stings, consult your doctor. If you have received more than 15 stings or you feel ill or are allergic to bee stings, go to the emergency room immediately.

Get the stingers out as soon as possible because venom continues to enter through the wound for up to a minute or until it is removed. If you squeeze them with a tweezers or your fingers as you remove them, you may actually squeeze more venom into the wound. Instead, scrape the stingers out with a dull knife, credit card or the edge of your fingernail.

Wash stings with soap and water, then apply an ice pack for five to fifteen minutes. Be careful not to freeze the skin.

Do not treat swelling by elevating the swollen body part above the heart.

Do not squeeze the sting or rub mud into it. This increases the risk of infection. Do not apply meat tenderizer or baking soda. Do not administer electrical shocks or drugs not prescribed for the patient.

How far north will they go?

Researchers are still unsure how far north the AFB will survive in the United States, but many scientists feel the strain is cold-tolerant enough to spread throughout much of the country with the possible exception of the northern Midwest. "In New Mexico, Africanized bees will probably live most places European honey bees can live," said Lamb.

"They're here; there's nothing we can do to eliminate them," he continued. "They learned to live with them in Africa, South America and Mexico. Now it's New Mexico's turn."