Bees Kill More Workers Bees are a crucial part of our ecological system, and yet are more dangerous to workers than the more commonly feared creatures like spiders. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Labor indicates that fatalities due to bee encounters far outnumber any other biting insect or arachnid. Although bees are comparatively more lethal than spiders, mites, wasps or ants, the body count is still low overall. In Texas, for example, only 83 people died from an insect-related injury between 2003 and 2010. Of these deaths, nearly two thirds (63%) were due to bees. Most deaths occurred as a result of stings, but five of the 52 individuals fell as a result of trying to escape bees. Texas far outstrips other states in terms of deadly encounters with insects, with the next closest being California. However, per incident and per capita New Mexico is the most dangerous place for workers who may encounter stinging insects, with 8.3 injuries per 100,000 individuals. Most employees killed or injured due to bugs are public-sector workers, which is likely a result of stronger code requirements.