Africanized bee populations are accustomed to defending against honey hunters who destroy their nests — resulting in more defensive bee behaviors than Western honey bees, which were bred for centuries for their gentleness. Killer bees are quicker to react to disturbances and they will chase an intruder more than a quarter mile for an attack.
Known to kill horses, humans, and other large animals, killer bee victims receive 10 times more stings than victims of European honey bees. Killer bees are known to kill in swarms ranging from 30,000 and 100,000 bees, darkening the sky from their sheer numbers.
While Africanized bee incidents are less common than they were during the first wave of colonization, this reduction is largely the result of improved management techniques such as locating nests away from human habitation, creating barriers around livestock, and educating people about the dangers of feral colonies.