African Bee Safety Tips

Killer bees, also known as Africanized Honey Bees were first identified in 2002. They are now well established in South Florida and several other areas of the state. While these bees are less predictable and a bit more dangerous than European bees, they don’t deserve the title “killer bees.” But for their own safety, Florida residents will need to gain an understanding of African honey bees.

Although African bees have been called aggressive, their reactions are actually defensive in nature. Compared to European honey bees, they swarm in defense in larger numbers, they defend a much larger territory, and they chase intruders much further. Regular honey bees may chase you about 50 yards, while Africanized bees will continue chasing for 150-200 yards or more. Unsuspecting animals and humans may be caught by surprise and seriously hurt by killer bees.

African honeybees look extremely similar to regular bees. They have bodies covered with fuzz , and an abdomen ringed with black stripes. Africanized honey bees are slightly smaller than European bees, otherwise they look so similar that even scientists and beekeepers cannot tell the difference. Aside from genetic analysis, comparison of as many as twenty different body measurements is the only way to know for certain which bees are killer bees. The best, and safest, advice is to simply avoid all bees.

A big difference between killer bees and European honey bees is the nesting location. European bees have larger colonies than Africanized honey bees. So they can’t nest in smaller locations like water meter boxes, drain pipes, inside old tires, and in holes in the ground. European bee colonies are also much more selective in their nesting locations. Many of the smaller locations preferred by African bees are actually provided by people and provide an explanation for the more frequent encounters between killer bees and people.

For every dollar of honey produced in Florida, approximately $150 is generated by bee pollination services that allow cultivated crops to exist. Some estimates indicate that one third of the food we eat would disappear without honey bees. Florida’s honey industry has an annual worth of more than $13 million and is consistently ranked nationally as one of the top five.

It would take a significant number of bee stings to prove deadly. Estimates from experts run between 5 to 10 stings per pound for a normal, healthy person. For a 150 pound person, that’s 750-1500 stings. The typical reaction to a sting is swelling around the stung area. That’s NOT the same as an allergic reaction. Those people with an allergy to bee stings are in the minority. They are less than 1 percent of the population.

You can significantly reduce the pain involved in bee stings by treating them properly. Don’t let stingers remain in the skin. Venom can continue to be pumped into the body for up to 10 minutes. Remove stingers quickly by scraping in a sideways motion with a fingernail or credit card. Never tweeze or pinch stingers when removing as that could squeeze even more venom into the body.

To reduce the risk of encountering Africanized honey bees on your property, you must be proactive. Inspect your property, note all possible nesting sites, and then eliminate them one at a time. If it’s an object that can be removed, then remove it. Otherwise block or seal up any openings. All gaps larger than 1/8 of an inch must be completely sealed. Larger openings like vents, tree cavities, or water meters, require the installation of screen over the openings.

Florida is now home to established colonies of killer bees. Any colony of bees in the wild has the potential to be an Africanized bee colony. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is now recommending that any wild bee hives be exterminated by certified pest control operators. Contact a certified pest control operator if you locate a colony of bees on your property. Make sure they are experienced in bee removal.

Bee control is our specialty. If you have an unwelcome bee swarm, Florida Bug Inspectors can get remove the bee nest quickly and safely. FBI serves all areas of North Tampa including Carrollwood, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, New Tampa, Temple Terrace, Thonotosassa, and Wesley Chapel.