Years ago, there was a decline in the honey bee population here in North America due to the rising temperatures. The honey bees couldn’t adapt quickly enough to the climate change and were dying off rapidly. This posed a major concern for our agriculture needs. Researchers then attempted to cross breed our honey bees with the African Honey bee who was better adapted to warmer temperatures. The result was a success when it came to cross breeding the two species. So now we have what is known as the Africanized honey bee and it looks very much like our regular native bee but can survive our rising temperatures. Unfortunately, the Africanized honey bee is much more aggressive then our native honey bees and has been the cause of several deaths. A-Tex Pest Management would like to share more about this species and how you can protect your home and yards from these aggressive pests.
What Do Killer Bees Look Like?
As stated, the Africanized honey bee looks much like our native honey bee with a golden yellow coloring and dark brown or black stripes on their oval shaped abdomen. Like other bees, they have six legs and a pair of antennae. The Africanized honey bee can grow up to ½ an inch in length and are mostly found inhabiting Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. Where the Africanized honey bee looks much like our native honey bees, it’s hard to know which species you may encounter.
Killer Bee Swarm Attacks
Simply, the Africanized honey bee isn’t more dangerous than our native honey bees while they are at work. Most bees won’t bother people unless their hive or their queen is in danger. When Africanized honey bees are pollinating or flying around, they don’t look for people to sting as many believe. Even if you try to swat them away, they will typically move on. However, if you come too close to their hive, all bees will attack. Our native bees typically won’t attack unless an intruder comes within five to ten feet of their hive or begins attacking their hive. The Africanized Honey Bee is a different story altogether. They will not allow any intruder to come within one hundred feet of their hive. Another major difference is our native bees will only send about 10% of the workers to defend the hive. Africanized honey bees will send 90% and are able to sting multiple times. For those who may be allegoric to bee stings, being attacked by Africanized honey bees is a life-threatening situation.
DIY VS Professional Bee Removal
If a beehive is discovered near your home or in your yard, do not attempt to remove the hive yourself. For one, you may become a victim especially if you happen to have Africanized honey bees. Additionally, most bee species, including the Africanized honey bee, is a protected species. Therefore, removing and killing the bees is illegal. If a mature hive is discovered, contact a professional pest control company that services bee removal. When a pest control company comes to remove the bees, they relocate them to a safer place where they won’t pose a threat to people and will thrive.
Stinging Insect Pest Control & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park, Texas
If you have bees or wasps on your property, contact A-Tex Pest Management. We will perform an inspection and if we find that it is bees you are dealing with, we will refer a local beekeeper to assist in bee relocation. If we determine wasps are on your property, we will exterminate them to ensure they are removed and won’t come back. For all of your pest control needs, contact A-Tex Pest Management today!