How to avoid a bee attack

Illiondale resident and committee member of the Eastern Highveld Beekeeping Association (EHBA) Astrid Riley urged residents and workers to exercise caution after a bee attack in the Avenues.

On November 13, Louise van der Wal was stung numerous times by bees after she came to the rescue of her gardener and domestic worker.

Debbie Brown, daughter of the 66-year-old Second Avenue resident, said her mom died on November 15 at Linksfield Hospital.

“Louise was the gentlest person. She was always saving all the bugs and animals,” said Debbie.

“I love you very much. I could not have prayed for a more caring and loving mum, who loved unconditionally and without any criticism.”
Louise’s funeral was held on November 20 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Elma Park.

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“When I heard about the attack on social media, I was so shocked. Honey bees are very dangerous when they feel threatened and should be treated with extreme caution,” said Astrid.

“Everyone at EHBA offers their deepest sympathies and condolences to the friends and family of this brave lady.”

Astrid said when a bee starts stinging it emits a pheromone which communicates a threat to the other bees in the colony to attack until there is no longer a threat to the hive.

With five years’ experience in the beekeeping industry, Astrid said bees are most active during the day and extremely sensitive to vibrations and scents such as those created by sweat or animals.

Astrid said although bees will protect their hive and their queen, stinging is their last line of defence.

“Before they start stinging someone, bees will give you a warning by flying into you and bumping you to chase you away.”

Astrid advised community members to make use of the following advice to avoid being attacked by bees.

• Be observant: “Look around for bees. See if you can locate or identify a large group or a distinct route or flight path they are using. If you do, stay away from the area.”
• Day vs night: “Don’t do garden work in the middle of the day. Bees will be less active earlier and later in the day in cooler temperatures.”
• Be calm: “When you are surrounded by bees, relax and do not flail your arms about or disturb the bees. Just leave the area.”
• Water: “Make sure you have a sprinkler on hand in case the bees start to swarm. Bees cannot fly well in the rain so if their wings get wet, they land on the ground.”
• Pools: “Never jump in a pool, the bees will wait for you and as you come up to breath air, they will sting your face and open mouth.”
• Distance: “Once you have gotten away from the bees then stay as far away from the hive as possible and call a professional to remove the bees.”

“When a person is stung by bees they typically go into anaphylactic shock. The amount of bee stings needed to kill someone, if not allergic, on average is 90 stings per 10kg body mass in an adult male.

“In a healthy hive, there can be anywhere between 20 000 and 80 000 bees. The age of a hive can often be determined by the development of the honeycomb and a number of other factors.”

Astrid said beekeepers associated with the association are told to keep a topical cream and antihistamine tablets with them.

She said if a person knows they are allergic they generally carry an epi-pen with them.

Astrid said the reason she enjoys beekeeping so much is that she is assisting the environment and educating others.

“One-third of the world’s food source is pollinated by bees. Already in some parts of the world they are pollinating by hand, without the bees our food source is therefore under threat.

“I love educating people and children about bees. Once you eradicate the fear, they are fascinated.”

Astrid said although anyone can be a beekeeper, there are regulations and by-laws which need to be met.

For more information visit EHBA’s Facebook page.

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