Arizona man stung to death by "killer" bees

PHOENIX, Aug 22 (Reuters) A swarm of ''killer'' bees attacked a man and his father as they repaired a roof in a small town in southeast Arizona, killing one man and hospitalising the other, police said.

Cochise County Sheriff's Department said the Africanized honey bees stung Charlie Pasley, 39, more than 300 times as he carried out repairs to a home in Huachuca City, 250 km southeast of Phoenix yesterday. He died at the scene.

Spokeswoman Carol Capas said the swarm also attacked Pasley's father, Chuck, 62, who was reported to be in a stable condition in hospital late yesterday.

The insects, commonly known as ''killer'' bees for their highly aggressive behavior, are descended from a ferocious strain that was first introduced to the Americas from Africa in the 1950s in the hope that they would produce more honey.

The bees absconded from research hives in Brazil, slowly spreading through South and Central America. They first crossed into Texas from Mexico in 1990, since when they have attacked and killed dozens of people.

Researchers say the bees developed their highly defensive behavior and furious work rate to deal with voracious predators and short growing seasons in drought-prone areas of Africa.

REUTERS SK BST0420