Africanized Bees Are Officially Established

The Africanized honeybee has officially made its home in Los Angeles County.

After DNA testing of bees found in Palmdale and Long Beach, state and county agriculture officials deemed that all 4,083 square miles of Los Angeles County had been colonized.

County Agricultural Commissioner Cato Fiksdal said this week that the announcement should serve as a warning to all residents to avoid contact with swarms of bees or hives.

“People ask if this is a disaster,” Fiksdal said. “The answer is, no. After all, how often do we run into a beehive anyway? But at the same time, the risk is greater now of being stung.”

Residents who find bee swarms on structures are advised to contact pest control companies, while residents who discover them elsewhere are advised to call the local vector control district, Fiksdal said.

If a person is stung multiple times, Fiksdal said, the victim should cover his head and face and seek help by dialing 911.

The Africanized bees’ sting is no more toxic than that of the familiar European strain of honeybees, said Darryl Sexton of the Long Beach Department of Health. The Africanized bees, however, will attack in larger numbers, deliver up to hundreds of stings at once and pursue victims for longer distances--up to a quarter mile in some cases.

Sexton said the Africanized bees are also more territorial and irritable and could be angered by such odors as perfume and after-shave or by vibrations from lawn mowers and children playing.

No bee attacks have been reported in Los Angeles County since the bees were discovered here in December. Africanized honeybees can also be found in Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange and Ventura counties.