The Worst Thing You Can Do During a Bee Attack

Bright Side

Ever wondered what not to do when a swarm of bees is chasing you? Most people think jumping into water is a smart escape — but it’s actually the worst decision you could make. In this video, we break down why going underwater can backfire big time. You'll learn what bees really do when you disappear beneath the surface… and how to actually survive an attack. It's science, survival, and a bit of shocking truth — all in one stingingly good video. Watch now so you don’t make the same mistake if things ever go buzzingly wrong.  Animation is created by Bright Side.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/   Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV  Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Our Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightplanet/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en   Stock materials (photos, footages and other):  https://www.depositphotos.com  https://www.shutterstock.com  https://www.eastnews.ru  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.

Transcript

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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