Africanized Bees in Oklahoma

[rmihalek]

Here's a bit from CNN.com on the northward progression of Africanized (aka "killer") bees:

Wright said it will be the furthest north the so-called "killer bees" have traveled in the United States.

The bees were discovered when a work crew cut through the limb of a storm-damaged tree last month in the southwest Oklahoma community of Tipton.

"We all ran different directions to the vehicles, and they followed us. There were just so many of them," said Jeff Marshall, a city worker who was stung between 35 and 40 times.

Seven members of the work crew were treated at a hospital.

 

[Reed]

Thought they'd get that far by now. I think the northern part of OK will be about the last reaches of their conquest.

We've been dealing with them for a few years now - seems they mellowed quite a bit from the stories preceeding them although in South central TX anyone on a backhoe or skidsteer found it tough to up and run. Always have Benadryl or a cardiac team handy. The pills are easier.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Bob, I would hate to encounter the bees you described. I am highly allergict (sp) to bees. I get stung every year though, which puts me down for at least 3 days if I get stung by more than one.
I can only compare it to getting bit by a venomous snake.
The bees represent a far larger danger to me than the job I do, so I try to be vigilant and watch out for them, but they are very sneaky, especially the ground bees, like yellow jackets.
Happening on a nest that was dug out by a bear is a good way of getting stung. This happened to me on Van Isle B.C. in 81'.
Since fallers pants are very loose, you can imagine where all the stings were.
A profound rash envelopes me from head to toe and is excruciatingly itchy with alot of localized swelling that lasts for days accompanied by a state of confusion, which is generally the case anyway. lol
John

 

[Reed]

John, you're a good candidate for Benadryl. I would always have the packett in the glove box if I were you. Killer bees or not.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Oakwilt, the pharmacist gave me some last time some wasps got me. I stoped there first with a swelled throut instead of going to the horsepistal, and she said if I was going to be dead, I would be dead already. The Benadryl is in my truck and I took some last time I was stung. Is there an expiration date on the benadryl, as they seemed crumbly after a year in the truck?
John

Distracted Druggist

'A shilling's worth of quinine, please,'
The customer demanded.
The druggist went down on his knees
And from a cupboard handed
The waiting man a tiny flask:
'Here, Sir, is what you ask.'

The buyer paid and went away,
The druggist rubbed his glasses,
Then sudden shouted in dismay:
'Of all the silly *****!'
And out into the street he ran
To catch the speeding man.

Cried he: 'That quinine that you bought,
(Since all may errors make),
I find was definitely not,--
I sold you strychnine by mistake.
Two shillings is its price, and so
Another bob you owe.'


--- Robert Service

 

[Stumper]

The end of the Africanized bee looms on the horizon. Soon, Oklahomanized bees will be moving west to California and retracing the immigration paths by which the Aficanized bees entered our hemisphere. They will be recognizible by the tiny loads of furniture they carry with tiny mattresses tied on top. The aggressiveness that characterized the Africanized bee will be replaced by a goodnatured, gritty fatalism that refuses to give up in the spite of the hopeless nature of life.

 

[jkrueger]

Originally posted by Gypo Logger
Hi Bob, I would hate to encounter the bees you described. I am highly allergict (sp) to bees. I get stung every year though, which puts me down for at least 3 days if I get stung by more than one.
I can only compare it to getting bit by a venomous snake.
The bees represent a far larger danger to me than the job I do, so I try to be vigilant and watch out for them, but they are very sneaky, especially the ground bees, like yellow jackets.
Happening on a nest that was dug out by a bear is a good way of getting stung. This happened to me on Van Isle B.C. in 81'.
Since fallers pants are very loose, you can imagine where all the stings were.
A profound rash envelopes me from head to toe and is excruciatingly itchy with alot of localized swelling that lasts for days accompanied by a state of confusion, which is generally the case anyway. lol
John

Bless you. I thought my reactions to all that is delivered my way in climbing was rough, yours bits it.

Easy,
Jack

 

[ptar]

Venom Allergy

You can get treated for bee venom allergy. It can be very effective.
They give you a blood test, then a shot once a week for a month or so,
then a shot once a month.

When I get stung, I apply benadryl cream on the affected area as soon as possible.
It seems that if I wait until I start to swell up, then putting the cream or taking the pill won't do anything.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Boy, I'm lucky. When I get stung I just cuss a lot!

 

[046]

take the benadryl imediately, takes 15min+ to reach bloodsteam.

I would apply local as well, once it starts to swell, it's not nearly as effective.

 

[glens]

I've noticed in recent years that each bee (or wasp) sting seems to give me an ever higher level of buzz.  It's probably not a good thing, is it?

Glen

 

[MasterBlaster]

Just don't lick a toad's back at the same time... you'll OD.

 

[jimmyq]

I have a little suction cup thingie in my pocket the last few weeks since the bees are so dang aggressive and numerous. it was sold as a "snake bite kit" but for the 3 bucks I thought it would help for some of the beast stings too. havent used it yet but I guess thats a good thin. supposed to just stick it on the sting right after your stung and it sucks the stinger and a bit of the venom out hopefully.

 

[jimmyq]

in use

 

[jimmyq]

instant hickey!

 

[Gypo Logger]

When in the forest, don't lick one of these or you wake up in Florida.
John

http://www.naturesound.com/frogs/audio/sqrl.ram

 

[Gypo Logger]

That's a good idea jimmy to carry that around. It seems the yellow jackets leave the stinger in and disembowel themselves in the process, so they mean business, whereas the wasps, or is it Hornets, can sting repeatedly? I found a nest of bald faced wasps that I nearly dragged a log over. Although not as aggressive as yellow jackets, they will chase you if disturbed enough. I killed them all with my truck, but latter regretted it when I read they kill yellow jackets.
John

 

[glens]

Hi John.

Down here in the southern colonies, <a href="http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2075.html" target="_blank">yellowjackets</a> are wasps and therefore do not possess barbs on their stingers as the bees do.

I just dispatched a colony the other evening.&nbsp; It's the time of year to look down that straw before sipping on it.

Glen

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Glens thanks for the informative link. It set me straight on the wasp/bee/ hornet differentiation.
I hear what your saying about straws. 6 years ago I had a coffee sitting on a stump with a lid, took a sip and wham!, bit on the lip, my lips swelled to such a degree that I would have been a prized lover should I have been in the mood to complete the, "labia major meets labia minor."
John

 

[glens]

I'm tellin' ya, that site is better than a set of Encylop&aelig;dia Britannica!&nbsp; I'd just picked it out of a google search for "yellowjacket".&nbsp; The <a href="http://ohioline.osu.edu/lines/facts.html" target="_blank">Fact Sheets</a> are great.&nbsp; Here's the <a href="http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/index.html" target="_blank">Insect and Pest Fact Sheet Index</a> which includes stuff about stings, Africanized honey bees, and all sorts of pertinent goodies.

Glen