African killer bees, a warning.

Anyone had any experience with these? Apparently they have been sited in various places around lake Chapala, including El Tepalo waterfall, and allegedly killed a horse this past week. 300 Stings so the story goes. They are very aggressive, and more than 400 people have died in Mexico from killer bee attacks. We apparently have them in our bougainvillea and they attacked our gardener yesterday, stinging him 4 times on his face and twice on his neck. He had to go immediately to the clinic for an injection, after his tongue started to swell. He was lucky, others may not be as lucky.

The bomberos have to come and spray for them with special equipment. So, be very wary and run if you hear any loud buzzing sounds. They swarm badly and can be very dangerous. So be wary, and warn others about this. It is bee season right now.

Sounds like a new business venture. GAURD BEES

They have been here for some time. A tour guide I know was leading a tour of the country side and saw a little boy swarmed by bees. She got out of the car to help him and was swarmed herself. She got back in the can and rolled the windows up but a few got in and stung her clients. She drove to the nearest help - don't remember where and told them the location of the little boy and got herself and her passengers treated. The bees were very aggressive. That was at least 6 years ago.

They have been here for some time. A tour guide I know was leading a tour of the country side and saw a little boy swarmed by bees. She got out of the car to help him and was swarmed herself. She got back in the car and rolled the windows up but a few got in and stung her clients. She drove to the nearest help - don't remember where and told them the location of the little boy and got herself and her passengers treated. The bees were very aggressive. That was at least 6 years ago.

Don't know what the standard pollinating bees are they use in Mexico but they are much more belligerent than ones up north. In Yakima orchards we used to walk up to hives and check them out up close. Lately walking in a mango orchard with my dog we ended up running when about 100 yards away from the hives.

Latest on this, the bomberos were just here, and informed us that they had not decided to build a hive on our property, whew, however the swarms may have as many as 4,000 bees. So, what they are doing at the moment is migrating. During this time anything may cause them to swarm, and attack. They have, at least according to the bomberos, moved on in their migration. If not they will come back, the bomberos that is. Meanwhile be careful and find someplace to get out of the way if they do get upset, the pool is not an option apparently because they will wait until you come up for air.

There were hundreds of them swarming the gardener.

E-raq: Which fracc do you live in?

Raquet Club

I have a friend whose horse was killed by those African killer bees near Chapala a long time ago. He had just washed the horse with a shampoo that contained apple pectin...and that was what attracted them. Something to consider when bathing your animals...

Well, I'm happy to report that the bomberos were spot on. The bees have taken off for southern climes and there have been no further problems.

They were migrating just like the guys said.

Do the regular bees here have the Mite problems we have NOB?

Z

Zedinmexico wrote:Do the regular bees here have the Mite problems we have NOB?

Z

Sorry Zed, other than what I learned this week I know little to nothing about bees.