2 Men Absorb 40 Stings in State’s First ‘Killer Bee’ Attack

BLYTHE, Calif. —  A pair of tree trimmers who got 40 stings within minutes were California’s first victims of a “killer bee” attack, agriculture officials confirmed this week.

Camerino Leyva and Manuel Corea of Indio were treated at a hospital and released. Both were back at work the next day even though Leyva had been stung 25 times and Corea 15.

The aggressive Africanized honeybees entered California more than a year ago, and the Nov. 28 attack probably will not be the last in the state, said Cal Kaminskas, assistant agricultural commissioner for Riverside County.

“This is part of the graduation we expected all along,” Kaminskas said. “First they would enter California, then a stinging incident, and unfortunately there will probably be a killing episode like Arizona and Texas have had.”

Leyva and Corea were clearing branches away from power lines. Leyva was in a “cherry picker” crane about 25 feet up, and Corea was on the ground.

When Leyva cut a branch, bees poured out and started stinging his face, back and arms. Some got inside his shirt.

Leyva was afraid to try to crane’s controls for fear he would hit the wrong switch and go up into the power lines.

“I was afraid I was going to fry,” he said.

He yelled for Corea, who lowered him manually from below. The operation took about two minutes, and the bees kept stinging. Once Leyva was on the ground, the bees went for Corea as well.

“I’ve been stung before, but usually you run 20 yards and you are OK,” Leyva said. “They kept following.” When the pair tried to get back to the truck, the bees attacked again.

Authorities confirmed Thursday that the bees were Africanized.