Allergic reactions usually do not develop after the first sting. After a second or third sting, a reaction can develop. It is difficult to predict whether a person will have a life-threatening allergic reaction. If you or family members are very allergic or have asthma, you are more likely to be allergic to stings and should be careful around stinging insects. Africanized bees have spread northward from South America to North America and some have been found in Southern California.
Africanized bees produce honey but are harder to handle.
Africanized bees tend to be a bit smaller than common honeybees but are otherwise identical in appearance. Even experts can't tell Africanized bees from the common European honeybee just by looking at them. Genetic studies in a laboratory are needed to determine the type of bee. The venom of the Africanized bees is not more dangerous than that of regular bees. But Africanized bees are more aggressive, more easily provoked and sting in greater numbers, causing more injury.