Buzz
Forget about sharks and bears—wasp and bee stings are responsible for more fatalities worldwide than any other animal attack. The Centers for Disease Control report that 90 to 100 people in the United States alone die annually from insect stings. Experts believe this figure is actually conservative, as other deaths, such as those caused by heart attacks or heatstroke, could be linked to stings that went undiagnosed.
Americans aren't the only ones who need to worry about these flying killers. Across the globe, wasps, hornets, and bees are claiming lives, particularly those with undiagnosed allergies. Some hornet species are so massive that it doesn’t matter whether a person is allergic or not—encountering one almost always results in a fight for survival. The worst part? During spring and summer, they can appear anywhere, anytime.
10. Chieko Kikuchi
In a scene that could have come from a horror film, an 87-year-old woman from Japan, Chieko Kikuchi, was rolling in her wheelchair on her way home from her retirement home in 2017. Suddenly, a swarm of Asian giant hornets descended on her. Known for leaving gruesome, gaping wounds, these hornets proved to be too much for Kikuchi. As she screamed for help, onlookers realized it was far too dangerous to intervene and save her.
The nursing home worker who was with her called the fire department, but even they were forced to stand aside, powerless to help as a vast swarm engulfed her. The attack lasted for 50 minutes, during which she was stung 150 times. By the time the hornets were cleared and she was rushed to the hospital, it was too late. She passed away the following day.
9. Bee Sting Acupuncture
Gwyneth Paltrow brought bee sting acupuncture into the spotlight, claiming it was an effective treatment for muscle pain. The idea is that bee stingers are supposedly superior to regular acupuncture needles. Unfortunately, in 2018, a 55-year-old woman in Spain underwent this procedure and fell into a coma. She later died from organ failure several weeks later.
This woman had previously undergone multiple bee sting treatments for muscle spasms without any allergic reactions. However, doctors studied her case and concluded that repeated exposure to bee sting allergens can trigger a severe reaction, even if symptoms don't appear right away. They now strongly advise against such procedures, as the risks far outweigh any potential health benefits.
8. Austin McGeough
On an October evening in 2016, 21-year-old Austin McGeough had just undergone wisdom teeth removal when he decided to attend a house party to drink with friends. Mixing the painkillers prescribed by the dentist with alcohol proved disastrous. McGeough became severely intoxicated and disoriented. As the night went on, he wandered away from the party, attempting to find his way back, stumbling through the darkness. He thought he had reached his house and tried to enter, but instead, he had stumbled upon a closed nursery.
One of the windows was broken and covered with cardboard. McGeough, in his confused state, reached inside to pull back the cardboard, intending to climb through the window. Unfortunately for him, he disturbed a wasp nest on the other side. The wasps stung him viciously, leaving him in excruciating pain. Despite this, he managed to get inside the nursery, grab some pizza from the fridge, and knock over a shelf. He called his girlfriend to explain what happened, then dialed 911 to report the wasp attack and ask for help.
In his frantic state, McGeough began walking toward the highway, hoping to meet the ambulance on the road. He wanted to be visible for the rescuers, but in his disoriented condition, he stepped too far and was struck by a car. His body was sent flying into the opposite lane, where two more vehicles ran him over. If it weren’t for the wasps, would he have simply eaten his pizza and fallen asleep? Would he have made it back to the party? Unfortunately, we'll never know.
7. Desiree Pell
Desiree Pell, a sweet 78-year-old great-grandmother, was tending to her garden at her home in Lincolnshire, England, in August 2017. She suspected a wasp nest might be hidden inside a barrel, and when she leaned over to investigate, she was stung on the finger. Her daughter-in-law, Sharon, was at the house at the time and went to get a Band-Aid. But before Sharon could return, Desiree collapsed. Sharon immediately called 999 emergency services and attempted CPR to resuscitate her. Tragically, by the time paramedics arrived, it was too late.
According to Pell's family, she was unaware that she had an allergy to wasp or bee stings. Medical experts suggest that had she carried an EpiPen, her life might have been saved. Her family, devastated by the sudden loss, described her as a deeply loving and supportive woman who had a youthful and energetic spirit, always embracing life with joy and enthusiasm.
6. Warren Brown
In November 2015, Warren Brown was camping with friends in Washington state. As dusk approached, he began chopping firewood to start a fire, unaware that one of the logs he was working with contained a massive hornet's nest. When the nest was disturbed, the hornets attacked, stinging him numerous times. Some of his friends, nearby at the campsite, quickly called for medical help, but they lacked an EpiPen. Tragically, Brown passed away at the age of 60.
Even if someone has been stung by a wasp or bee as a child without any allergic reaction, it doesn't guarantee that their body will remain unaffected later in life. Adult-onset allergies are a genuine concern. As people age, they can develop allergies to new foods, plants, or animals. This highlights the importance of getting regular allergy tests every few years to stay informed about any changes in one's health.
5. 41 People
Asian giant hornets strike fear in more than just allergy sufferers. These massive and lethal insects are capable of killing anyone. In a terrifying incident during just three months of 2013, a swarm of hornets claimed 41 lives and injured 1,600 people in Ankang, China. The venom of these hornets is so potent that even people without allergies can die from the stings. The venom destroys human tissue, leaving horrific wounds large enough to insert a pinky finger.
One man who survived a hornet attack was working in a field, picking vegetables when he unknowingly stepped on a nest of massive Vespa mandarinia hornets hidden beneath the dirt. Panic spread among the workers, who tried to fend off the attacking insects. One of the survivors recalled grabbing a basket, emptying it, and using it to shield his head and eyes as he fled. Tragically, he witnessed the death of one of his friends nearby.
A resident of Ankang expressed the horror of the situation, saying, “God has been unfair to us,” in response to the relentless hornet attacks. In a desperate effort to halt the invasion, the local fire department resorted to using flamethrowers to burn the hornet nests.
4. Alex Bestler
In May 2016, Alex Bestler and his friend Sonya set out for a hike in an Arizona park. Without warning, a dense swarm of thousands of bees descended upon them. Neither of them saw any hive or provoked the bees in any way, yet they were relentlessly attacked. Sonya, who was a few yards ahead, heard Alex's screams and turned to see him being attacked. She quickly ran to a park restroom for safety and informed someone else at the park, who bravely returned to help Alex.
When they reached him, Alex was found unconscious on the ground, his body covered by a dark cloud of thousands of bees. The local fire department arrived, clad in protective gear. They lifted Alex into a vehicle and drove away, with the bees following them as far as they could fly. Unfortunately, Alex passed away at the hospital. The park was closed to prevent further fatalities, and authorities attributed the attack to the Africanized bee, or 'killer bee,' known for its highly aggressive nature.
3. Pixie’s Puppies
In March 2018, three puppies tragically lost their lives due to a bee attack in Glendale, Arizona. Esther Julian was at home with her children, their dog Pixie, and six puppies. The family’s backyard, filled with trash bags and open soda cans, unknowingly attracted an estimated 30,000 killer bees. While the cold months had kept the infestation at bay, the warmer spring weather had worsened the situation, though the family had not noticed the growing threat around their trash piles.
While playing in the backyard, the family was suddenly surrounded by a swarm of thousands of bees. Julian and her one-year-old daughter were stung, and in a panic, Julian tried to rescue the puppies. One of the six puppies went missing and is presumed dead. She rushed the remaining five to the vet, where they received injections to counteract the venom. Sadly, two of the puppies did not survive the attack.
2. Eric Dahl
In 2017, Eric Dahl was simply blowing leaves in his backyard in Foxborough, Massachusetts, when he unknowingly stepped on an underground nest of yellow jackets. The swarm immediately attacked him, stinging him multiple times. Dahl had been stung before and didn’t think he had any allergies. However, the overwhelming number of stings he received triggered such a severe shock to his system that he suffered a heart attack from the venom coursing through his veins.
Strangely, the local news station reported that his death was caused by honeybees. However, honeybees are typically non-aggressive and usually only sting when provoked. In fact, they play a crucial role in maintaining our ecosystem.
On the other hand, wasps and killer bees are much more aggressive and pose a greater threat. Anyone who owns property should be vigilant for signs of underground wasp nests and should consider hiring an exterminator or researching methods to remove them safely, especially at night when the insects are less active.
1. Winnipeg Wasps
When most people think of Winnipeg, Canada, their minds likely turn to cold winters rather than the threat of a deadly swarm of insects. However, with the ongoing changes in the climate, wildlife behaviors are also adapting. In the summer of 2017, Winnipeg witnessed three wasp-related fatalities, marking the highest number of such deaths in the past 15 years.
Even those who survive wasp stings in Winnipeg experience extreme reactions. One woman, Katherine Zinger, was stung in the leg, causing her leg and foot to swell massively. Fortunately, she had an EpiPen for a different allergy, which she used to save her life when the wasp venom triggered an unexpected reaction. She was rushed to the hospital for treatment. In response, the city began issuing public service announcements urging residents to eliminate wasp nests at night for safety.
