One of the reasons these more aggressive bees are moving in is because populations of European honeybees have decreased in the past few years. Two types of parasitic bee killing mites are causing a reduction in the numbers of free roaming bees and beehives. As a result, arriving Africanized bees are finding plenty of places to live and breed, and the best way to fight Africanized bees is with other honey bee populations. If the honeybees are already established and working in an area, there will not be enough pollen left for the Africanized bees. While Africanized bees look almost the same as European honeybees, we need to realize there is a big difference between the two.
Regular bees attack only when provoked, and the attack is usually a single sting.
Africanized bees attack when provoked as well, but sometimes it only takes loud noises or vibrations from power equipment from as much as one hundred feet away to make them feel threatened. Attacks result in several, possibly hundreds, of stings and Africanized bees will travel greater distances than European honeybees when attacking. If you should come into contact with a beehive or swarm, stay away from it. If bees are trying to sting you, run quickly in a straight line to a safe area, such as a car or building. Water or thick brush will not offer enough protection.