Take a quick scan of the headlines, and you’ll quickly find hundreds of stories of killer bee attacks. Kids, police officers, park rangers, even the average Joe have all had encounters with Africanized Honey Bees, commonly called “killer bees,” and those headlines are terrifying. The thing about these bees, though, is that you should be a little worried. They’re a scary species, and because they’ve made their way throughout Florida, residents across the state have pretty good reason to be worried.
What Are They?
It’s tough to spot these bees at a single glance. They’re slightly smaller than your standard European honey bee, but you wouldn’t be able to tell unless you had some lab-grade measurement devices with you. They often exhibit the same behaviors as other honeybees, and they even make honey themselves. The problem is that they exhibit heightened defensive characteristics. Despite the fact that the sting from a single bee typically holds less venom than that of a European bee, the fact that they’re so defensive makes up for that as more bees come out for the attack, leading to additional stings from individual bees. Each bee can only sting once (and only the females can sting), but when you have a good portion of the colony coming at you, that doesn’t really matter.
How Do You Avoid Them?
Avoiding these so-called “killer bees” isn’t a lot harder than avoiding other bees. Start by understanding where they like to nest. They look for concealed locations that will remain covered for long periods of time. Abandoned garages and vehicles make ideal nesting places, as do piles of lumber, crawl spaces, and sheds. Even your chimney may be the perfect spot for them to hide.
Since you know where they like to nest, removing spots like that on your property is a good first step. Mow on a regular basis, and seal all of your outbuildings. Eliminate any junk piles from your yard, too. During the typical season for these bees (often March to July), you’ll want to walk your property on a regular basis to look for any unusual bee activity.
What If They Appear In Your Yard?
If you do find them, the single best thing you can do is contact an outdoor pest control specialist. These bees can mate with European bees to further spread their colonies. Removing them on your own is not a good idea. Try not to disturb the colony of bees. Even if you see a swarm, it’s important to remember that it’s usually pretty docile until you disturb it.
In the event the bees do get defensive, there are a few things you can do. First, don’t stay in one place swatting at them. You’re only going to make them angry, and they’re only trying to defend the nest. Cover your nose and mouth as you run so the bees can’t sting your airways. Look for an enclosed location in which to hide, as it can take up to a half hour for a swarm to disburse. Something like a vehicle or a building is best. If you do get stung, watch for an allergic reaction. Remove the stinger, and wash it with soap and water. If no allergic reaction occurs, medical attention is usually not required.
Africanized honey bees can be quite scary, but as long as you understand what to do and how to prevent further problems, you shouldn’t encounter ongoing problems with these creatures. If you can Africanized honey bees in your yard, visit Slug-A-Bug or call 321-259-7844 today for a free evaluation.