Safety Tips for Africanized (Killer) Bees
by Russ Frank
Africanized Honey Bees have become established in Florida. Since their first identification in 2002, Africanized bees have become established in South Florida, West Central Florida and in pockets throughout North Florida. As these bees, also known as "killer bees," become more common in Florida, the public will need a better understanding of the facts about Africanized honey bees. While they are a bit more dangerous than European bees, a little knowledge and common sense will go a long way toward ensuring everyone's safety.
African bees are known for being extremely protective of their nests. Killer bees are more easily provoked than European honeybees. They defend a larger area around their nest. Africanized bees swarm to the defense in much greater numbers, and they chase perceived intruders much greater distances. This combination of traits can easily surprise unwary people and animals with deadly results.
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.
Honey bees in the United States produce about $150 million worth of honey annually. The Florida honey industry is ranked in the top five nationally with an annual worth of more than $13 million. Around $150 is generated in bee pollination services for every dollar of honey produced in Florida. Farmers depend on pollination by honeybees to the tune of an estimated $14 billion annually in the U.S. according to a recent study.
Experts tell us that it would take between 5 and 10 stings per pound of body weight for a healthy person to receive a deadly dose of bee venom. That's between 750-1500 stings for a 150-pound person. Nearly everyone reacts in some way to stings. The normal reaction is to swell around the stung area. Less than 1 percent of the population has an allergy to bee stings.
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.
When it comes to killer bees, the best defense is a good offense. Walk through your property and make note of any potential nesting sites, then eliminate them one by one. Either remove the object that could become a nesting site or block any entrance to the site. Seal all gaps larger than 1/8-inch in walls and around plumbing. Install screens over other openings, such as rain spouts, vents, cavities of trees and fence posts, water meters, utility boxes, etc.
African honey bees are now well established in Florida. Any wild colony of bees has the potential to be an Africanized bee colony. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services currently recommends that all wild bee hives be exterminated by certified pest control operators. If you do find bees nesting on your property, Russ at Florida Bug Inspectors to quickly solve your bee problem.
Quick, professional bee removal in Tampa. Florida Bug Inspectors. contact us today.
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