A Texas man was killed Saturday while clearing brush when he was attacked by a swarm of Africanized bees, more commonly known as killer bees. 62-year-old Larry Goodwin was clearing brush on a neighbor’s property when he upset the hive containing over 40,000 of the deadly insects.

The name itself should send shivers down your spine, but how much do we know about the killer bee and how can we protect ourselves from such a deadly sounding creature???

The killer bee is a hybrid of African and American bees which are believed to have entered Texas in 1990 and spread to about ten other states from California to Florida. 

But why are there bees so deadly?

The threat is in their hyper protective nature: They are especially protective around their nests and often swarm their prey when they are threatened. They are also known to pursue intruders for up to a mile…I don’t know about you but this gives me some motivation to get fit!!!

So how do you protect yourself from these killer bees with behavior that scientist has called hyper defensive?

The first point is to be aware of your surroundings, if you spot a hive do not get too close to it, and be careful of the noise you make as these bees are perceptive to loud sounds. If you do get attacked run, and run in a straight line as they are slow fliers. While you run be sure to protect your face, and run into the wind as this makes it harder for bees to catch up to you till you find some shelter.

While they do seem terrifying, deaths from the so-called killer bees are extremely rare. Only 8 people have been killed by them since 1990. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be vigilant, so when you’re outdoors this summer remember to BEE careful.

Thumbnail image: Flickr user 'dlplumer'