If you’re a regular-sized adult with no allergies, it would take more than a thousand stings for the attack to be lethal. It requires an immediate dose of epinephrine, and in many cases, hospitalization.Īs painful as the sting may be, the truth is it would normally take many stings to actually kill a human. People who already are allergic to bee venom will likely go into anaphylactic shock, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction. Victims that are unable to run from the attack, such as elder, young, or disabled people, will have a more serious outcome. The reason why their attacks can be deadly is due to the number of stings the victim receives. Their venom also isn’t much different from that of regular European honeybees.

If you’re out walking and you stumble upon one Africanized bee, chances are, it will just mind its own business. Killer bees only become aggressive when they detect a threat to their hive.

Victims have reported being stung hundreds and even thousands of times.Īre they really that dangerous though? The simple answer to that question is no. A swarm of drones will target the intruder, and nearly all the bees will go for the sting. When the killer bees detect a threat, they will respond very quickly. When they attack, they most often do this in large swarms, meaning the victim will receive more stings. Since their accidental beginnings in Brazil, killer bees have caused more than 1,000 deaths in the United States. Neuropeptides are also very common molecules present in humans. In other insects, however, the neuropeptides are used to regulate digestion and feeding, not aggression. In fact, other insects were found to have a certain amount as well. Neuropeptides aren’t only found in killer bees, though. This resulted in the youngsters becoming aggressive, similar to the elder bees. The biochemists injected some of this protein into a few young honeybees. In killer bees, this protein is what makes them more aggressive and easily provoked. Neuropeptides are signaling molecules that influence activity in the body and brain. The provoked bees, however, showed a third protein-neuropeptide. The bees that remained in the hive (unprovoked) only had the two regular proteins active in the brain. The biochemists also collected a few of the bees still remaining in the hive to compare. They would then collect the killer bees which stuck to the ball as they attacked. The biochemists did a test where they swung a leather ball next to the hive. These are present in the bees’ brains at all times. They discovered two already known proteins called allatostatin and tachykinin. Why are they so aggressive? Where does this come from? Biochemists in Sao Paulo, Brazil have studied the brains of these fascinating bees. They can detect humans or animals from more than 50 feet away and mechanical equipment from a distance of up to 100 feet. Killer bees also have an incredible sense of threat. Sometimes they’ll do this without even being provoked. These bees will actually chase the intruder for up to half a mile. The killer bee has taken this protective nature to a much higher level. They do so by attacking the intruder with painful stings. Honeybees, in general, are known to be quite aggressive, as they have to protect their hive. Killer bees are a hybrid of European honeybees and African honeybees. To understand why they’re so aggressive you’ll have to look at their relatives. They are extremely aggressive compared to other bee species. Killer bees have been given their name from their hostile nature. Killer bees have very efficient eyesight, which allows them to see ultraviolet rays. The head of the killer bee is smaller than the body, although its eyes are large and bulbous. After the thorax comes the middle section, the abdomen, which is a bit larger than the thorax. The killer bee has four clear wings which are attached to the thorax. They also have a few black stripes however, these aren’t as distinctive as those seen on wasps and hornets. Killer bees are brownish in color and covered in fuzz. They’re actually smaller than European honeybees, measuring about ¾ of an inch. The killer bee, however, isn’t much different from a regular honeybee. The name “killer bees” is enough to send shivers down most people’s spines as it sounds like a giant.

Bee killer