Africanized bees attack and kill a central Texas man

Moody, TexasA hive of Africanized bees has killed a Central Texas man and injured a woman who tried to help him.

McLennan County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Matt Cawthon told the Waco Tribune-Herald that Larry Goodwin was driving a tractor in Moody about 30 minutes south of Waco on Saturday when attacked. Goodwin ran to a house about 50 yards away and tried to use a garden hose. A woman came out to help and was also stung. Goodwin was pronounced dead on the scene.

Allen Miller, owner of Bee Be Gone, who later destroyed the hive, said Goodwin apparently hit a pile of wood that housed a hive. Miller estimated it contained about 40,000 bees. He said Africanized bees attack much more aggressively and in greater numbers than European bees.

Miller told the Waco Tribune-Herald that with European Bees only 10 percent of the community will attack if it is disturbed, but with the Africanized variety the entire hive will attack.