Dealing with Africanized Honey Bees

    Dealing with Africanized Honey Bees
    Rick Gibson
    Cooperative Extension Agent, Agriculture
    Pinal County, Arizona

This period of warm and mostly dry summer weather is a great time to get out and bee proof your home and sheds because, absolutely, you do not want Africanized honey bees to move in and become your not-so-friendly neighbors.

The beneficial value of honey bees to our lifestyle cannot be underscored.  They pollinate our crops and provide us with the wax and honey that is so critical to our livelihoods.  This makes them an important part of our living environment.  Because of this, bees should be protected and managed to provide the needed resources of food and fiber upon which our lives are based.  It is only the wild hives and swarms, especially those that have become Africanized, that require our careful and constant attention.

Africanized bees are given their name because of their native home.  European bees came originally from Europe and likewise the Africanized bees came from Africa.  The strain from Africa, as you know, can be a real pain, in more ways than one.  Not only are they more defensive of their hives than their European cousins, but they also invade cavities in our trees, houses, out buildings, lumber stacks, and other similar locations to build their nests.  Once they are there it is difficult, and expensive, to get them out.  Prevention is much better than waiting until there is a problem.

The on-going drought has been tough on honey bees and because of that the relative number of swarms, fragments of the hive who break off to form a new hive, have been much less than what we normally see in a wetter year.  Because bees need water and pollen in order to thrive, bee colonies in dry areas struggle to survive.  Still, if we do get some rain this summer, we need to be prepared when swarming picks up.

Experienced people well know that Africanized honey bees are nothing to disregard.  Their nasty temperament makes them extremely dangerous and we just can not afford to let them take up residence anywhere near our homes.  Now is a good time to review the facts about these important, but sometimes threatening animals and talk about how we can make sure they do not find a nice spot and move in. 

While domesticated honey bees that are regularly managed by qualified beekeepers pose little threat to people, pets and domesticated animals, wild honey bees can be either a nuisance or a danger, depending upon where they are and how long they have been there. For those who may be new to Southern Arizona, it may be helpful to explain about our current honey bee situation.

In our area, there are two main forms of the honey bee, the European honey bee, which has been with us for centuries, and the Africanized honey bee, which is a relatively new arrival in the Southwest.  Both strains are quite similar in all ways, except for behavior.  They look alike.  They have similar work habits.  They produce the same type of honey and they are so closely related that they can exchange genes during the reproductive cycle.  In fact, the differences that once made it possible to distinguish between the two types are now, through the reproductive process, quickly fading away. 

It is also important to know that colonies of honey bees frequently and regularly go through the swarming process.  The creation of a swarm of bees is usually the natural and expected process of forming new queens, dividing up the workers, and sending out colonizing swarms to set up housekeeping in new locations.  This “change of address” process is the way bees expand their numbers and ensure the safety of the species.  Swarming usually takes place during the spring and early fall periods locally.

Another type of colony movement can also occur, especially with Africanized honey bees.  When the colony decides that they are in the wrong place, such as when the location is too exposed, too hot or too dry, or not enough food available, the entire hive may simply move out on a moments notice.  This type of swarming is referred to as ‘absconding’.  Absconding can take place at any time in our area.  It is extremely important to keep up our guard even when we would least expect new arrivals. 

In spite of all the similarities, and the benefits, of the two types of honey bees, it is the difference in behavior between the two strains that should keep us on our toes.  It is no secret that the Africanized honey bee has a nasty temper.  While the European honey bee is a relatively passive and mild bee that has proven to be easy to work and stable in its living arrangements, the Africanized honey bee continually shows its normal, impulsive nature. 

Okay, let’s stop here for an aside.  I do not want anyone to blame the Africanized bees for their behavior.  It really isn’t their fault.  They are simply prompted by an urgent instinct to protect the hive.  In their proper place, they cause little problem.  Unfortunately, their habits are so dangerous that in residential areas we have to brand them as social outcasts and unacceptable pests in and around our homes and working areas.
   
When honey bee hives, especially wild, untended hives, are established in close contact with places where people, pets, and livestock live and work, problems can arise. Since wild colonies, those found outside a reputable beekeeper’s box, are probably Africanized, once again let me stress that it is essential to watch for, and eliminate, any hives that locate onto our property.  Otherwise, we set ourselves up for a serious stinging situation in the future.

Now just because you see honey bees in your yard or around your swimming pool or sprinkler heads, there is no reason to panic.  Honey bees live in large groups of up to 60,000 bees.  Single worker bees can fly as far as six miles to collect pollen and nectar from flowers to feed themselves and their offspring.  Sometimes they visit hummingbird feeders for sugar water.  They also collect water from birdbaths, swimming pools or pet watering dishes.  Bees gathering food will sting only if they are trapped in clothing, stepped on or otherwise threatened.  Single foraging bees should be left alone.

If you regularly see many bees, however, you should be alert to the possibility there may be a wild honey bee colony nearby.  Look for numerous bees flying in and out of an opening such as a crack in the wall, in or underneath outbuildings, or through the cover of a water valve box.  These wild, untended hives cause us the greatest concern.  The vast majority of wild hives in our area are Africanized and since it is difficult to tell the good guys from the bad guys, we have to assume for our own safety that all wild hives are Africanized honey bees.

If you do find a swarm or an established bee colony in your neighborhood, keep everyone away from the bees.  Consult the telephone directory for pest control operators who will remove or destroy the bees.  In most cases, a swarm resting on a tree or structure will usually move on to a new home in a very short period of time.  If their presence lasts for several days, they are probably setting up a new hive. 

Do not try to remove the colonies yourself!  Never shoot, throw rocks at, pour gasoline on, burn, treat with pesticides, or otherwise threaten established honey bee colonies.  Do not ignore bee colonies around your home, even if they do not seem to be a problem.  Small colonies that have recently set up housekeeping may be docile at first, but can become more defensive as the colony matures.  You should have wild honey bees removed immediately by a trained professional.

If you accidentally disturb a colony or are attacked, run away as fast as you can.  Get to the shelter of a house or car as quickly as possible.  Because the bees target the head and eyes, try to cover your head as much as you can, without slowing your progress.  Do not flail or attempt to swat the bees, just get away fast. 

Many people when they are attacked are tempted to jump into a swimming pool to get away from the bees.  This is not a good idea.  The bees are smart enough to know that you have to come up for air sometime.  They tend to hover above the surface of the water waiting for you to come up for air.  It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to figure out what happens next.   

If you see someone being attacked by bees, encourage them to run away or seek shelter.  Do not attempt to rescue them yourself unless you have a bee suit and proper training.  Call 911 for emergency help. 

If you are stung by bees, you should examine yourself, or have someone else check for embedded stingers.  When a honey bee stings, it often leaves its stinger and venom sac behind in the skin.  This will eventually kill the bee.  Unfortunately, the venom sac is still functional and will continue to pump venom through the stinger into the skin until it is empty.  Do not compress the stinger by trying to pull it out with tweezers or fingers.  This will only squeeze more venom into the wound.  Scrape the stingers out using your fingernail, the edge of a credit card, or with a dull knife.  If you feel ill, if there appears to be an allergic reaction to the bee venom, or if you have been stung more than fifteen times, seek medical attention immediately.

If we all stay alert and keep the swarms of bees from setting up permanent homes in urban areas, they will keep on moving out into their natural element where their nasty tempers will not generally be a threat to people.  By keeping our living areas clear of these nasty-tempered pests, we can continue to enjoy the benefits without enduring any unnecessary risks.

If you have questions, you can reach one of the Master Gardeners at the Cooperative Extension office, 820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Building C, in Casa Grande.  The telephone is (520) 836-5221, extension 204.

The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.  The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.

Rick Gibson
Extension Agent, Agriculture
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Building C
Casa Grande, Arizona 85222
Voice:    (520) 836-5221
Fax:    (520) 836-1750
email:    gibsonrd@ag.arizona.edu