Killer bees bite the dust at St. Mary’s

Last Week a cane farmer died in San Lazaro Village in the Orange Walk District after he was attacked in a field by a swarm of Africanised bees. This afternoon in Belize City, three hundred and sixty-four students of St. Mary’s Primary School remained behind closed doors as another swarm of killer bees flew into the school’s compound and settled on a tree in the front yard. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods and cameraman George Tillett went to the scene and caught up with a team of agricultural officers who had just responded to the frantic call.

Marcella Weatherburne, Vice Prin., St. Mary’s Primary

“It was the school warden who reported it to me as I came to school this afternoon. It was about twenty minutes to 1:00 when she said that they saw some bees flying around and in a short while it just became a great big swarm and they went and rested on this tree in the school yard. And so we took all the children inside, told them to not go near them because we didn’t want any of them to be stung by the bees.”

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Vice principal Marcella Weatherburne says two years ago, a swarm had killed her dog and stung her daughter so she knew just how aggressive the bees could become if disturbed.

Marcella Weatherburne

“So I know what they can do and I was quite concerned. So we called the Agriculture Department and they said that the person in charge was in Cayo, but I kept calling and calling because I was quite concerned about the children.”

A team of agricultural officers arrived on the scene. After assessing the situation, they took immediate steps to eradicate the bees. Fernando Peraza had the task of killing the colony. After putting on protective gear and arming himself with several cans of Rapid Kill aerosol spray, Peraza cautiously approached the swarm.

District Agricultural Co-ordinator, Thomas Tillett, says since the Africanised Bees were first observed in the country in 1987, the ministry has embarked on a programme to control and manage the bees because they are far more productive than their European counterparts. But during the rainy season the bees tend to leave their hives and fly into populated areas.

Thomas Tillett, District Agricultural Co-ordinator

“They would come into cities, and then create problems because they are looking for another area to make homes. Sometimes they are on trees and they are in major cities and communities and they are disturbed by noise and become aggressive when they disturbed by noise.”

“In the case of an attack, we would advise and individual to cover their head, because the bees will attack any part that is black, especially the head. And that’s where, because the Africanised Bees see in infrared, they see in red and black, the head is black, so they will see that colour there and they will attack. That’s why when we use our suits we use white, so they have the tendency for attack the black is much higher than attacking white.”

The Agricultural Department kills over one hundred and fifty swarms each year. Peraza advises the public that when they find killer bee, leave the job to the pros to do.

Fernando Peraza, Agricultural Officer

“Number one, whenever you’re dealing with bees, especially Africanised Bees, you try to act as calm as possible. Otherwise your excitement, your nervousness…As humans we generate something that you let go like a odour, a scent just like an animal that becomes wild or frightened and the bees know that. so you try to go as calm as possible. However, you should be prepared.”

Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.

The officers say that following a call from the public they try to mobilise a team as quickly as possible, but on some occasions, because of lack of resources, the help is not immediate.