MYTH or FACT? Africanized bees are called 'killer bees' because a single sting can kill you. MYTH FACT MYTH or FACT? Africanized bees hunt people down and kill them. MYTH FACT MYTH or FACT? Swatting bees is the worst thing you can do if bees are attacking you. MYTH FACT MYTH or FACT? Afrianized bees fly faster than domestic bees, making it more difficult to escape by running. MYTH FACT MYTH or FACT? Honey bees can sting people only once. MYTH FACT Your score: Knowing how to avoid honey bees, especially the extremely defensive Africanized honey bees, is the best defense. But if you encounter attacking bees and get stung, here are some guidelines. Bee Sting Facts Everybody reacts in some way to stings. Most swell around the stung area. That's NOT the same as a systemic allergy. Less than 1 percent of the population has a systemic allergy to bee stings. Symptoms of a systemic allergy, obvious within 20 minutes of the sting, may include swelling of tongue or throat, hives, dizziness or difficulty with breathing, loss of consciousness. For a normal, healthy person to receive a deadly dose of bee venom, it would take about 10 stings for each pound of body weight, or 1,500 stings at once for a 150-pound person. Because such a small portion of the population is allergic, doctors don't recommend that everyone have an allergy test, but you can if you want to make sure. A honey bee only stings once, then it dies. Honey bees are attracted to hair and dark colors. Regular honey bees will chase you about half the length of a football field. Africanized honey bees may pursue you three times that far. Venom content is the same in all honey bees, but the Africanized honey bees have about 27 percent less than European honey bees. Do Remove stinger quickly. Remove stingers in a sideways motion with a fingernail, knife blade, credit card or similar material. Seek medical attenion if the person shows signs of a systemic allergy or if swelling extends beyond two joints (if you are stung on the finger and the swelling extends past the wrist and elbow). If you are allergic, always carry a bee sting kit prescribed by your doctor. Ice packs may reduce swelling. A sting-kill ointment may reduce pain. Do Not Don't let stingers remain in the skin, because venom can continue to pump into the body for up to 10 minutes. Don't tweeze or pinch stingers when removing. That will squirt more venom into the body. Don't cut the skin, try to suck venom out or use a meat tenderizer on the wound. That could lead to infection. Identification Habitat Economics Stings Education What to do Where they are Ask a Bee Question FAQ Home AgNews For more information about Africanized honey bees, contact Dr. John Jackman at j-jackman@tamu.edu.