A woman is in a critical condition after being attacked by a swarm of 80,000 Africanised honey bees outside a home in California, fire authorities said.
The woman in her 50s, known only as Maria, was collecting a mop from her car when she was stung more than 200 times yesterday.
The bees, also known as killer bees, attacked the woman’s face, eyes, mouth, and ears, with a paramedic telling NBC the insects "were almost in clusters ... maybe the size of a golf ball".
Orange County Fire Authority captain Tony Bommarito told Gizmodo that firefighters weren't properly prepared for the incident - and weren't wearing appropriate protection gear - because they thought it was a simple bee sting.
The team quickly realised the woman, who was barely conscious, required immediate assistance and rushed at the bees with fire extinguishers and freezing them.
The woman’s son has said she will survive, but the recovery will be slow and gruelling.
The Africanised honey bee species was brought to Brazil decades ago in an attempt to increase honey production.
But, much like cane toads in Australia, have overrun their new habitats. They have crossbred with domestic honey bees and are gathering speed and numbers as they spread further North.
"The bees are territorial and aggressive, and are known for their habit of swarming and attacking a victim repeatedly," Captain Bommarito told KNBC in the US.
"The insects can become agitated by vibrations from as far away as 33 metres and can pursue a victim for more than 400 metres."
The news comes as Australia grapples with its own population of bees. There are rising concerns about native bee endangerment and the risks that international honey contamination may bring to the insects.
Supermarket giant Coles earlier this month dropped the Allowrie brand of honey, which is made from up to 70 per cent imported honey from countries such as Mexico, Argentina and China.
The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council has previously raised concerns regarding the use of imported products and its effect on Australian native bees.
