Africanized "Killer " Bee Information
Your best idea is to get away as soon as possible and call a professional to deal with any bee problems. Especially if children, the elderly, or animals are around.
As of 02/09, Africanized bees have been found in 10 Arkansas counties: Baxter, Bradley, Clark, Columbia, Faulkner, Howard, Lafayette, Miller, Nevada, & Union. 23 counties surrounding these are considered at “high risk,” but this doesn’t mean that AFB may only be in those 33 counties!
The Arkansas State Plant Board & bee experts recommend that all unmanaged colonies & swarms be destroyed to combat the spread of Africanized bees & protect the public. Children, the elderly, & small pets are especially vulnerable.
You can’t look at a bee & tell if it is Africanized or not. Certain behaviors (like extreme aggression) call for extra caution, & genetic testing is the ONLY way to be sure. The Plant Board has asked me to take samples of any suspicious bees. These & others are tested to see if AHB have spread.
Over 800 beekeepers across the state manage about 75,000 bee hives & harvest over 3.5 million pounds of honey each year. Many of the state’s most important crops depend on these hives for pollination. Africanized bees threaten lives, managed hives, agriculture, livestock, & your wallet.
Africanized bees are generally more aggressive than their European cousins, but, just like the European bees, they are only defending their colonies (hives). Africanized bees have been known to chase individuals for 1/2 mile or more. And the trick of diving into a body of water doesn't work with them either, they wait for you to surface.
And once disturbed, Africanized bees stay defensive for a much longer period of time as well. Loud noises, vibrations, movements, and smells are generally what sets them off. And what we may not notice, they may pick up on readily.
