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Killer Bees Hanging Out!!!
 African Bee Queen Where to look for African Bee Hives The African Honey
Bee is less discriminating than the European Honey Bee about where to build their nests. If you see bee activity on your property
and suspect an infestation, here are the most common spots to look out for killer bees: - Roof line in the eaves/ soffits
- Around and in chimneys
- Roof
vents
- Rain gutters
- Water meters
- Cinder
blocks
- Bird houses
- Air conditioner
- Barbecue
grill
- Wheel barrow
- Empty containers and barrels
- Storage shed/ under floor of shed
- Under floor of playgrounds
- Flower pots
- Wood Pile
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The African Bee, more commonly referred to as the"Killer Bee" is actually a honey bee that originated
in Africa. They were brought to Brazil in the 50's with the hopes that introducing this variety would make the bees more
productive. Since the African honey bee can swarm (when the hive splits and the queen takes a portion of the bees to start
a new home) more often than the European honey bees, their population quickly grew and they started speading throughout South
and Central America. From there, they eventually made their way through Mexico until the were identified in Texas in the early
90's. They have since spread throughout much of the southern United State. In their native habitat, the African Honey Bee has a lot more predators and as a result developed different behaviors
than their more docile European cousins, hence why they are so much more aggressive than the Honey Bee most of us are used
to. In Africa, the bee is feared and respected by both man and beast, so much so that even a recording of an African Bee hive
will drive a herd of wild elephants away (Click here to see video). The fact that the African honey bee is easier to provoke is a painful reality many of our customers have experienced
while trying to mow or weed-whack within 50 feet of an African hive. Whereas the European honey bee will have no reaction
to a lawn mower near the hive, the same vibration will send the African bee into a full blown attack. Though the severity
of the sting is the same for both breeds of honey bee, the African Bees are provoked much easier and attack with greater numbers
than the European honey bee and this is where the danger lies. It takes about ten sting per pound of body weight for an attack
to be fatal, so 150 lb human will usually take 1500 stings, assuming no allergies are present. Since the average hive can
be between 10,000 to 100,000 bees, a couple thousand stings is a realty to always be aware of when you encounter a hive. What to do of attacked by Swarm When the hive is signaled to attack, the
killer bee like all honey bees will swarm out of the nest and attack anything in the vicinity. Once a bee stings they
release a pheromone marking the person as a threat. Unlike European honey bee that will abandon an attack pretty quickly,
the African honey bee has been know to chase a perceived threat for up to 1/4 mile. Jumping in water will not help either
as the killer bee will hover over a person in water for up to a half an hour. The first thing to do is run in a straight line
to the nearest shelter. Get inside a car or structure since it's better to be stuck with a couple dozen that to expose
yourself to a couple thousand. If shelter is not available, keep running in a straight line as fast as you can until you are
clear of the bees. Immediately deal with any stings you've received and then call a bee removal specialist to remove the
threat. Spread of Africanized Honey
Bees in the US What to do with a Bee Sting The first thing
to do in the event of a bee sting or multiple stings is get the stinger out. When the honey bee stings a human with their
barbed stinger, they don't have the strength to pull their stinger out of the skin and end up ripping away from the stinger
leaving it and the venom sac behind, which will continue to release venom for several minutes afterward. This
is why the honey bee can only sting once. It is also why
if you get a bee sting the stinger should be scraped out and not pulled out so the remaining venom in the sac isn't released.
You can use a key, credit card, fingernail or whatever you have to scrape the stinger out. Local swelling and redness is a
normal reaction and often confused for an allergic reaction. Ice can help reduce the swelling which can persist for a couple
of days. Itching is also common for a couple days after a bee sting. Antihistamine's or anti- itch lotion will reduce
itching. A true allergic reaction means the swelling spreads to the tongue and throat making breathing difficult and could
be life threatening. If a known allergy exists, you should ask your doctor about an Epi Pen which should be carried at all
times and administered immediately after a bee sting.
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