TOP TEN PEST- "Killer Bees" Africanized Honey Bees
Identifying:
Africanized bees are physically similar to regular honey bees. It takes an expert 4 to 6 hours using a microscope and computer, or
DNA testing, to identify whether a bee is Africanized or not. You cannot distinguish between the two types of bees by simply looking
at them. Because they have been here for several years now, it is generally considered that all wild honey bee colonies in southern
Arizona are now Africanized.
“Regular” honey bees were brought to the U.S. from parts of Europe. These European honey bees are adapted to a temperate climate with cold winters. Africanized bees were brought to Brazil from Africa and mistakenly released in 1957. Africanized bees are adapted to a tropical climate and will live only in warm areas of the U.S. The sting from an Africanized bee is no different than the sting from a normal honey bee. The biggest difference between the two bee types is behavior. Africanized bee nests are easily provoked into stinging attacks involving large numbers of bees.
Dealing with Africanized bees is not something even the most capable do-it-yourself home-owner should attempt. The danger to yourself as well as your neighbors is just too great. The price you pay a professional will be a bargain compared to the possible consequences.>> back to top
Dangerous:
Honey bees are usually seen in four situations: foraging, water collecting, swarming, and nesting.
| Dangerous when feeling threatened | Nuisance when they're collecting water |
Rarely dangerous when swarming |
Dangerous when they're nesting |
Foraging bees visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar for food and to pollinate the flowers. Honey bees visiting flowers are not dangerous. If you disturb a foraging bee, it will usually move to a different flower. A foraging bee will normally sting only in self defense, such as when it is stepped on, pinched, or entangled in hair.
Water collecting bees need this water to survive. Since natural water sources are scarce in our desert, bees utilize water supplied by man. During dry parts of the year, the bees can become quite a nuisance around swimming pools, coolers, and animal water sources. Water collecting bees are not dangerous, and when disturbed, react much as foraging bees.
Swarms of bees occur when an existing colony becomes overcrowded and half the bees leave with a queen. A swarm will usually contain 5 to 10 thousand bees. They are often seen hanging in a cluster on a tree branch. At this point they are looking for a cavity to move into, to build a new nest. Swarms are rarely dangerous because they have no nest to defend.
Nests are rapidly built once a swarm has moved into a cavity. A nest is made up of adult bees and beeswax comb, which contain stored food and developing young. A nest managed by a beekeeper is a hive. An un-managed nest is a “wild colony”. Wild colonies of Africanized bees are very dangerous because almost anything can disturb them... vibrations, odors, and quick movement. The resulting stinging attacks have killed both animals and humans.>> return to top ten pest
