Multiple Africanized Bee Stings in a Child

Abstract

African honey bees, Apis mellifera scutellata (formerly adsonii) were imported to Brazil in 1956 to introduce a strain of bees with increased honey production which were more suited for the tropical climate.1,2 A year later, 26 African queen bees and their accompanying colonies accidentally escaped.1,2 The African queen bees soon began mating with established European bee races resulting in the hybrid Africanized honey bees.2 Like the pure African bees, the Africanized bees are more defensive with a greater tendency to sting than European bees.3 They respond quickly to the slightest disturbance of their nest and can send out many thousands of bees.