Bee attacks bring up safety awareness around Africanized bees

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Thank you. Well, we're learning this morning more about a bee attack in Sal Rita from earlier in the week where a man had to be airlifted to the hospital.

[00:00:07]>> Scary. A long time beekeeper told us while they don't know exactly what happened, a bee swarm and attack like this was most likely from Africanized bees. K gun nice Alex doubt is in the studio with us this morning to talk about what that means and how these bees could be dangerous. Alex?

[00:00:20]>> Well, they were all likely Africanized bees. They're the most common here in Southern Arizona. You might have heard them called killer bees and well yeah, they can kill you if you're attacked by a swarm and stung a lot. I spoke with a long time beekeeper who says these guys can be aggressive but are crucial to our ecosystem.

[00:00:38]>> That sound may scare many but not Monica King. She's a third generation commercial beekeeper specializing in Africanized bees which is really helpful in Southern Arizona.

[00:00:49]>> Don't do this in a residential neighborhood. Be very aware. Stay on top of your hives.

[00:00:54]>> Described as a failed escape science experiment, they're Italian bees with African genetics.

[00:01:00]>> Now, that is what most of our wild or feral population of honeybees are. Our Africanized genetic honeybees.

[00:01:09]>> While not outwardly aggressive, >> they don't seek you out.

[00:01:14]They don't like just go, oh I there's a human way over there. I'm going to go, you know, attack.

[00:01:20]>> Those bees are more defensive than European colonies. While other bees only send a dozen or so to defend a hive, Africanized bees will send thousands, more than enough to seriously injure or kill an average adult.

[00:01:33]>> You know, it's just like finding a rattlesnake in your yard or um running into, you know, a pack of dogs.

[00:01:40]It's dangerous. So, unless they are kept by a beekeeper and they're known European genetics, they are potentially killer bees.

[00:01:49]>> An Africanized colony can be tamed by replacing the queen.

[00:01:52]>> The new queen lays an egg. The egg emerges in 21 days. So, literally in a 2 to 3 month time period, this entire colony switches out genetics.

[00:02:01]>> Still able to pollinate and produce honey, but a little less territorial.

[00:02:07]Since the majority of feral or wild bees that you'll encounter here in Southern Arizona are Africanized, Monica says to be observant. Look for flight activity when you're going out on a hike or starting large machinery like a lawn mower in your yard. Bees can fit through openings as small as a pencil eraser and make their hives inside of almost anything, even a saguaro or a tree out in the open. In studio, Alex Dowd, KVOA 9.