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Bug Blog

Killer Bees Are Already Living Up To Their Name, And Mating Season Has Only Just Started

Africanized honey bees or “killer bees” are prevalent throughout the southwest, and are a particular problem in Arizona. These extremely aggressive bees begin wreaking havoc during the warmer months, generally from March to October. They are easily agitated and very defensive of their hive. Killer bees will attack at the slightest provocation, swarming the unlucky soul nearby. As all of the bees located in Arizona are of the Africanized variety, people need to be especially careful when any bee is spotted. People are not the only ones in danger, either. Pet owners must be mindful of their animals when they are outside, as killer bees do not discriminate, and numerous pets are harmed and even killed every year.

The greatest danger lies during mating season, which takes place throughout the months of May and June. This is when swarms of killer bees are most common. This year’s mating season has only recently begun, but casualties are already popping up. The Tucson Fire Department just reported an incident in which three dogs were attacked and killed by a swarm of killer bees. The fire crew was forced to use foam insecticide to kill the bees and stop the attack, but soon after the dogs were rescued and taken to a veterinarian, they sadly succumbed to their injuries.

This kind of situation is hardly unique, either. Just a few years ago, four puppies were killed by a swarm of killer bees in their backyard in Glendale. While the owner was on the phone with her husband, she saw the puppies and their mother being attacked by a swarm of bees in her backyard. The woman was unable to help the animals without also drawing the bees inside her home where she and her two children watched in horror. In the end, the woman and her two children had to run out of their own home and find cover at a nearby cemetery, which is where she called the fire department. While four of the puppies died and one was never found, one of the puppies and the mother did manage to pull through. Take care that you and your pets do not fall victim to one of these deadly bee attacks.

Have you or your pet/s ever been attacked by Africanized bees?

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