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'Killer bees' spreading and killing across the US. Are they in Georgia?
Africanized honey bees, often called "killer bees," are now found in 13 states and are slowly spreading northward, attacking people, livestock, and pets along the way. Recently, a Texas man mowing his property died after a bee attack and three people were taken to the hospital, and hikers in Arizona ran a mile to get away from an agitated hive.
According to the Smithsonian, to the naked eye, killer bees are generally identical to typical honey bees. The main differentiator is the danger level. While both bees have the same venom level, Africanized bees are much more sensitive to potential threats and send out way more bees to attack.
Killer bees were first imported to the Americas in 1956, bringing them to Brazil with the idea of cross-breeding them with local populations of honey bees to increase honey production. Since then, the Smithsonian says they have killed about 1,000 people. As mentioned before, it's the number of attackers that give Africanized bees their danger.
University of Florida Professor of Honey Bee Research Jamie Ellis said "If I'm working around one of my European honey bee colonies and I knock on it with a hammer, it might send out five to ten individuals to see what's going on. They would follow me perhaps as far as my house and I might get stung I did the same thing with an Africanized colony, I might get 50 to 100 individuals who would follow me much farther and I'd get more stings. It's really an issue of scale."
The Georgia Beekeepers Association says, as of 2022, yes and no. Africanized bees were found in Albany (Dougherty County) in 2010 and in Brainbridge Decatur County in 2011. It's also worth mentioning, in 2024, killer bees were detected in two northern Alabama counties neighboring Georgia, according to the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association.
While they are not considered wide spread or established in Georgia, the GBA says all honey bee colonies should be treated with caution and respect.
Whether or not a colony of bees is Africanized or not, if you see one on your property, do not try to take care of it on your own. Call a professional to handle it. If multiple bees start coming after you, experts say to just run away as fast as you can't. Don't jump in water and don't swat with your arms. You may also want to pull your shirt up around your nose and mouth to protect against stings that could cause swelling of your airway.
If you have a big enough property and/or a hive doesn't present an immediate danger to people or pets, there is reason to leave it alone. Scientists who study bees say they hold a lot of promise for overall honey bee health because they're more pest and disease resistant and are very genetically diverse. That's important because honey bees play a critical role in agriculture and the environment and have been subject to large die-offs in the past two decades. Breeding and even gene manipulation could result in better – and gentler – bees.
It can take more than 1,000 stings to actually kill someone. But, one sting can be very bothersome and could still cause health issues if you're over sensitive or allergic. Here are some tips from the American Academy of Dermatology:
Remove the stinger. If the stinger remains in your skin, remove it by scraping over it with your fingernail or a piece of gauze. Never use tweezers to remove a stinger, as squeezing it can cause more venom to release into your skin.
Wash the sting with soap and water.
Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling. However, if the swelling moves to other parts of your body, such as your face or neck, go to the emergency room immediately, as you might be having an allergic reaction. Other signs of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, nausea, hives, or dizziness.
Consider taking over-the-counter pain medication. Bee, wasp, and hornet stings are painful. Painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain. Always follow the directions on the label and use the correct dose.
Elizabeth Weise of USA Today contributed to this article.
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: 'Killer bees' in Georgia? A look at their danger, benefits, history
