Though the killer bee apocalypse that many media outlets sensationalized never took place, there are certainly incidents where bee swarms wreak a lot of havoc. In fact, bees kill far more people in the United States each year than do sharks. Here are some of the stories:
– Learn more about insect bite and sting prevention
Bee’s Attack Ball Park
A swarm of bees flooded a baseball game at Elk’s Field in St. George, Utah, forcing players and spectators alike to flee for shelter. One man was hospitalized after reportedly being stung between 200 & 300 times. (3/22/2015)
Killer Bee Attack Leaves One Worker Dead, Sends Another to the Hospital
On October 8, 2014, two landscape workers were sent to the hospital after being attacked by a swarm of killer bees that numbered approximately 800,000. The estimate is based on the size of the hive, which reportedly covered 24 square feet. One of the men ultimately died from his injuries, and a third landscape worker and a nearby neighbor were also injured. Officials say swarms of this size are not uncommon, especially after a wet summer.
“Science fiction has nothing on bees,” says Reed Booth, who works on killer bee removal in Chochre County, Arizona, where the fatal attack took place. “You can’t make this stuff up.” He says that while attacks on humans are rare, bees kill animals in the county nearly every week. (Bieri, 2014)
Bees on a Rampage
Booth describes one incident that took place in Bisbee, Arizona, in 1998. Seventeen people were stung and eight were sent to the hospital. “It looked like a war zone,” he says. “There were cars in every which direction: doors open, shoes and blouses
on the street. These bees were so goofy; they were stinging wheels of cars and telephone poles.” (ibid)
Bees Attack PE Class
In Saginaw, Texas, a total of 23 sixth-graders from Highland Middle School were stung during an outdoor physical education class. Four of the students were treated and released from nearby hospitals. Officials say they’ll monitor a hive area in the
North Texas Town. (USA Today, 10-23-2014, p. 4A)
References:
1. Katie Bieri, “Bee warned: Swarms not unusual,” USA Today, Oct. 10, 2014, p. 4A