While honey bees are very beneficial in our lives and environment, their stings can be fatal, especially to those who are allergic. When they are agitated, they usually attack the victim. Their defense mechanism is using a stinger to inject venom. Most bees will run after you if you disturb their hive. This can be scary. But they are trying to protect their food stores, queen, and brood. 

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How far will bees chase you? 

This depends on the bee race you are dealing with. Africanized bees(killer bees) are famed for chasing victims for long distances.  They can chase you to a distance of up to a quarter of a mile. They are very overprotective of their nests and patrol a wider perimeter. They usually attack fast after a little provocation. Most of the other domesticated bee stocks will chase you for short distances. They usually give up after about 50 feet. After this distance, many of them will give back and start heading to the hive. They will perceive the threat is long gone. Bees run at a speed of about 15 miles per hour, and most healthy human beings can outrun them. So you should keep running. 

What to do if a bee is chasing you?

When a bee is chasing you, you should remain calm and move away quietly.  If you run fast, they will see the sudden movement as a threat and continue with the attack. An attack depends on how angry they are and how swift you are in moving away. If it is too close to you, try holding your breath; without a sense through your smell, you will have time to escape without being stung.

You should also avoid swatting the bees or brushing them off; this will send a signal that you are a real threat and will go on to attack you. If they run after you, you should run in a straight line and take shelter in a building or get indoors as soon as possible. If you are in your property or backyard when the bees attack, head to the door and shut it immediately. Once inside, be sure to turn off the lights. You can also move into a car.  Another way to escape is to run through shrubs or bushes to distract the bees. If no building is near, run until the bees stop following you. You should not jump into a pool or any water body since they can hover around until you resurface. If they attack you, you should use your shirt or a cloth to cover your eyes and ears from stings. Stings in these areas are the most painful. Avoid, by all means, fighting back. You should avoid killing the bees as they come to you. Bees release a pheromone when they die, and you will end up with hundreds of stings from other bees.

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How to prevent attack by bees

Wear Light-Colored Clothes if in a Bee Zone

Honey bees have evolved to discover the dark coloring of their predators and will attack on spotting them. These include badgers, bears, skunks, and raccoons. Light coloring, such as white, will not be threatening to them.

Avoid Disturbing Their Nest

Bees will always attack if they feel threatened. You should stay away from the nests. If you accidentally disturb a hive, run away immediately before the reaction.

Avoid jumping into water bodies once attacked

Once you dive into a water body, they will wait for you to come up and sting. 

Avoid Colognes and Sweet-Smelling Sprays

These make the bees attracted to you. They perceive you as a nectar source and will come buzzing around you. 

Avoid swatting Bees

It is not advisable to kill or swat bees. The pheromones released after killing a bee attract more bees to attack you.