Man killed by Florida killer bees.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Man stung to death by killer bees.

[Andrew92]

And people wonder why I'm afraid of bees!

I've been stung twice at one point while camping with some guys when I was in high school. I thought that was bad enough (except my friend who I was with got stung 5 times, eek!)

A couple years before I was born, my sister (then about three years old) apparently stepped in a ground bee's nest and got stung all over the place. I can only imagine how much she must have cried and how sick she got! But she did survive.

But you know, even though I always hear these once a year, it still mesmerizes me. Was the man allergic?

-Andrew92

[feederband]

Funny thing just yesterday my youngest one went out of his way to kill a honey bee..I said don't do that it could be a killer bee and his buddies could be up a tree and go out of there way to kill you..

Then I see this thread...

[Miss Mary]

I became allergic to bees over 12 years ago. It was odd, one day I could be stung by a bee and I would only have mild swelling at the sting site, then the next I had a full blown reaction on my hands (called anaphylactic). I went to a med-first facility and ended up with 2 shots, 2 oral meds, couldn't drive home (had to strand my car there, call hubby to leave work and come get me and the our then two young kids). I felt literally drunk - as if I had just consumed many beers. I was told you could develop this allergy at any time, one day not allergic, the next extremely allergic. I had to take Benadryl around the clock (setting the alarm in the middle of the night to take it), for 5 full days. My symptoms could have returned. I didn't want that! Long story short, I must carry an Epi Pen and Benadryl with me. I've been stung a few times where I have swelled but not had the full blown reaction I had 12 years ago (but the potential for one is there each sting). If any swelling goes above a limb to the heart area, you must head to the ER. That's scary stuff! So each time I am stung, I immediately take Benadryl, put ice on the sting and watch it carefully. Once I sat in a local hospital's ER parking lot, waiting to see if I needed to go inside. That time I took half a dose of Benadryl to see if the sting progressed. It didn't. Our copay for an ER visit is $250 now so I wanted to be sure I needed a visit before walking in that door!

I found out there are several types of bees and the one that affects me the most are the yellow jackets. I avoid them like crazy!

Bee stings are nothing to mess with......

[x-y-no]

Actually, yellow jackets are social wasps (family Vespidae genus Vespula) not bees.

Stinging incidents with yellow jackets are very common because they tend to build (sometimes very large) nests under the eaves or in the attics of houses, so there's a lot of opportunity for encountering them.

[Terrell]

I personally steer well clear of bees and wasps. I've never been stung, and intend to keep it that way. This is an example of why.

[Andrew92]

Actually, yellow jackets are social wasps (family Vespidae genus Vespula) not bees.

Stinging incidents with yellow jackets are very common because they tend to build (sometimes very large) nests under the eaves or in the attics of houses, so there's a lot of opportunity for encountering them.

Yellowjackets are just good for nothing, so I've heard. Simply walking nonthreateningly can get you stung several times by those evil dudes.

About ten years ago I was stuck in Denver for a night on my way out to Wyoming. I think the main headline on the newspaper we got delivered to our room was about numerous yellowjackets infestations in homes in the metro area. As I recall, some people even needed to be evacuated! It was crazy reading that article.

-Andrew92

[HURAKAN]

When you visit Florida be careful of alligators, crocodiles, sharks, rays, and now, killer bees!!!

[RL3AO]

When you visit Florida be careful of alligators, crocodiles, sharks, rays, and now, killer bees!!!

and hurricanes.

[HURAKAN]

When you visit Florida be careful of alligators, crocodiles, sharks, rays, and now, killer bees!!!

and hurricanes.

I was thinking on killer animals, but we can also include hurricanes!!!

[HurricaneBill]

When you visit Florida be careful of alligators, crocodiles, sharks, rays, and now, killer bees!!!

Don't forget jellyfish and senior citizens!

[feederband]

You talking about me?

[Andrew92]

You talking about me?

Actually, yes, my precious.

I'm surprised I haven't seen any bees or wasps in Arizona....yet.

-Andrew92