00:00Well, here you are, running from a swarm of bees.
00:18You try swatting them away, but there are just too many.
00:21Their sharp stingers are getting closer and closer.
00:24Just ahead, you spot a lake and make a split-second decision.
00:28Without thinking twice, you dive right in.
00:31Now you're underwater, eyes squeezed shut, holding your breath as tightly as possible.
00:37It feels safe, for now.
00:39But the moment you come up for air, you'll realize you've just made the biggest mistake
00:43of your life.
00:44I mean, jumping into water seems like a smart move, probably because at some point in your
00:50life you've seen bees floating lifelessly in a swimming pool.
00:54So naturally, you think, okay, if I dive underwater, they'll follow me in, drown, and I'll get
00:59out without a scratch.
01:00Sure, that logic checks out.
01:03But in reality, you'd be setting yourself up for something much, much worse.
01:08Before I explain why diving into water is actually a terrible idea, let's talk about bees for
01:14a second.
01:15There are over 20,000 different bee species worldwide.
01:18To put that into perspective, that's more than all the bird and mammal species on Earth
01:24combined.
01:25Thankfully, not all bees are aggressive.
01:28Solitary bees, for example, don't have honey stored away to protect.
01:32And in the bee world, that basically means they're chill.
01:35They have no reason to attack you.
01:38Plus, male solitary bees don't even have stingers.
01:41Then there are bumblebees.
01:43They do have stingers, but they're pretty small.
01:46Usually, bumblebees are gentle and mind their own business.
01:49Getting stung typically only happens if a bee ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
01:54Like if you accidentally step on one, you might end up with a stinger stuck in your foot.
02:00So the real trouble starts when you run into certain, less-friendly species, like Africanized
02:05honeybees.
02:06With those guys, things can go downhill fast.
02:11Once in Texas, a 62-year-old farmer named Larry Goodwin was driving his tractor when
02:16he accidentally disturbed a hive of Africanized honeybees.
02:20Within minutes, an estimated 40,000 bees swarmed him and started stinging.
02:25Sadly, he didn't survive.
02:27And that's not an isolated incident.
02:30Africanized honeybees are known for showing no mercy to their victims.
02:34Just disturbing their hive can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation.
02:38That's because you're dealing with insects programmed to protect their home with ruthless
02:43efficiency.
02:44When they sting you, they're not just causing pain, they're marking you.
02:48Each sting releases a special pheromone, which is basically their way of yelling to the rest
02:53of the swarm, hey, here's the target!
02:56Fun fact!
02:58That alarm pheromone smells kind of like bananas.
03:01And once it's on you, it sticks to your skin, your clothes, and surfaces nearby.
03:06Africanized honeybees are especially skilled at picking up this scent.
03:10Studies show they respond twice as quickly to alarm pheromones compared to other species,
03:15and they're about 30 times faster when chasing a moving target.
03:19So all this means that if you disturb Africanized honeybees, trust me, they'll hunt you down
03:24and make your life a living nightmare.
03:27But you can escape if you don't make certain mistakes.
03:31And jumping into water is probably the dumbest thing you can do.
03:34There are a few reasons for that.
03:36The first reason is pretty obvious.
03:38Once you're in the water, your ability to quickly escape or maneuver is severely limited.
03:44On land, you can run fast or even get inside a house, shutting doors and windows behind
03:49you.
03:50But in the water, your options sink.
03:52Sure, you can swim fast, but if you're in a small lake or a pool, there's nowhere to
03:57go.
03:58You're basically trapped.
03:59And swimming around in circles definitely won't help your case.
04:03The second reason is that certain bee species can actually swim.
04:07Or more accurately, they can surf.
04:10These bees flap their wings to create tiny ripples, allowing them to glide along the surface.
04:15Okay, they're not exactly the Michael Phelps of the insect world.
04:19But the point is, hitting water doesn't necessarily mean game over for them.
04:23They'll just calmly surf back to the edge, dry off, and fly away like nothing ever happened.
04:29In fact, some bees can actually survive underwater for up to a week.
04:33So yeah, they're not as afraid of a lake or a pool as you might think.
04:38And the third reason is that bees are patient.
04:40Extremely patient.
04:42They have all the time in the world to wait if it means they'll get the chance to attack
04:46you again.
04:48Remember that alarm pheromone I mentioned earlier, the one that gives away your exact location?
04:53Well, it doesn't fade away quickly.
04:55It can last for hours, even up to a day or more.
04:59This means bees might hover right above the water, calmly waiting for you to resurface.
05:04And when you finally come up for air, because eventually you'll have to, they'll strike
05:09again.
05:10And this time, the stings focus around your face, your nose, your mouth, your eyes.
05:15And if you're really unlucky and accidentally inhale one of those guys, that's when things
05:20get extremely serious.
05:22A sting inside your throat or airway can cause it to swell shut, completely blocking your
05:28ability to breathe.
05:29And that's not good.
05:31It doesn't help that your body is now working twice as hard.
05:34You are desperately holding your breath underwater.
05:37You're panicking.
05:38Your clothes are soaked and heavy, dragging you down.
05:41Suddenly, you are no longer just trying to escape bees.
05:45You're also fighting not to drown.
05:47So no, jumping into water won't save you.
05:50It just adds another layer of danger.
05:52But water isn't the only bad move.
05:55There are other, terrible ways you could react during a bee attack.
05:59Mistake number 1.
06:01Fighting back.
06:02Eh, don't do it.
06:03You'll just waste precious time.
06:05Bees have numbers on their side, plus the gift of flight.
06:09The more you flail your arms, the angrier they will get.
06:12And trust me, you don't want that.
06:15Mistake number 2.
06:16Covering your face.
06:17Sure, bees often aim for your eyes, nose, and mouth.
06:20And maybe our first instinct is to protect them.
06:24But if you block your vision, you'll have a tough time spotting an escape route.
06:29Mistake number 3.
06:30Playing statue.
06:31Protecting yourself by standing still might work for certain animals, like a grizzly bear.
06:36But with bees, it's a terrible idea.
06:39And it all comes back to that pheromone I mentioned earlier.
06:42If you just stand there, a bee might sting you.
06:44And remember, all it takes is one sting to unleash that pheromone alert.
06:49Suddenly, you're the prime target for every bee nearby.
06:53So, how to protect yourself?
06:55Obviously, the best way to avoid an attack is to stay away from bees entirely.
07:01Especially those extremely territorial species.
07:04They are incredibly sensitive.
07:06Even minor disturbances, like the vibration from a lawnmower or a kid tossing a small pebble
07:11at their hive, can instantly trigger their defensive mode.
07:15But if it's already too late, run!
07:19Running should always be your absolute number one strategy.
07:22Just drop whatever you're carrying and get the heck away from them!
07:26Running is your best bet because it creates distance between you and the bees.
07:31These insects can fly around 12 to 15 miles per hour, but most humans can outrun them.
07:36Africanized honeybees, in particular, are known for chasing people for about a quarter
07:41of a mile.
07:42So if you can cover at least that distance, you will probably be safe.
07:47Long story short, nah, too late for that.
07:50But still, if you ever find yourself in this dangerous situation, remember your first move!
07:56Run, and run fast!
07:58This way, you can get to a safe place, like a house or car, where you can shield yourself
08:03from the angry swarm.
08:04And remember to close all the windows behind you.
08:07But if you get stuck multiple times, make sure you seek medical attention, especially if
08:12you're allergic or start noticing any signs of an allergic reaction.
08:17Now, it is a good idea to share this video with your friends and family.
08:21That way, they'll also know how to protect themselves from these vengeful insects.
08:26That's it for today!
08:29So hey, if you've pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with
08:33your friends.
08:34Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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