Tag: Africanized Honey Bee

Living with the African Honey Bee

queen and ladies in waiting Credit: Scott Bauer, USDA/ARS

African honey bees and European honey bees are the same species of honey bee, but the two are classified as different subspecies or races of honey bee. African honey bee x European honey bee hybrids present an unpredictable combination of both subspecies‹ behavioral traits. This 4-page fact sheet written by J. D. Ellis and M. Bammer and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology explains how to “bee-proof” your house and yard and develop a bee safety plan as well as what you can do if you encounter a swarm or a colony of bees and how to treat a bee sting.
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1205

African Honey Bee: What You Need to Know

Figure 1. Exposed African bee nest on a tree limb

African honey bees entered the United States in the early 1990s and have since spread throughout the Southwest and Southeast, including parts of Florida. Compared to European bees, African bees are highly aggressive when disturbed and are more likely to sting humans and animals. This 6-page fact sheet covers the history and distribution of African honey bees in the Americas and explains how beekeepers and residents can manage their interactions with these bees. Written by H. Glenn Hall, Catherine Zettel-Nalen and James D. Ellis, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2014. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg113

What to do about African Honey Bees: A Consumer Guide

Figure 1. African honey bee queens, such as one at the center of the photo, appear nearly identical to European honey bee queens. Credit: Scott Bauer, USDA/ARSThe general public can take several steps to avoid encountering honey bee swarms or colonies. The first and most important step is for citizens to educate themselves and their families about the AHB. This 3-page fact sheet provides links to valuable resources, definitions of key terms, and touches on general precautions and bee-proofing. Written by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis and A. S. Neal, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2014. (Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA/ARS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in739

Frequently Asked Questions about the Africanized Honey Bee in Florida

Figure 1. An Africanized honey bee (left) and a European honey bee on honeycomb. Despite color differences between these two individuals, mostly they can't be identified by eye.The African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutellata, was introduced into South America from the central and southern part of Africa in 1957. Since its introduction into South America, the African bee has migrated into the southwestern United States and Florida. Apis mellifera scutellata is the African bee subspecies referred to in this 3-page fact sheet, which answers commonly asked questions about these bees and their behavior. Written by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis and A. S. Neal, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, November 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in738

ENY141S/IN864 Cómo Lidiar con Abejas Africanas: Una Guía Práctica

ENY141S, a 4-page fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis, Pablo Herrera and A. S. Neal, is the Spanish language version of ENY-141/IN739 What to do about African Honey Bees: A Consumer Guide. It provides information about Africanized honey bees (AHB), which have been labeled ”killer” bees, steps people can take to avoid negative interactions, how to handle stings, and bee-proofing basics. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in864

ENY140S/IN862 Preguntas Frecuentes Acerca de la Abeja Melífera Africanizada en Florida

ENY-140S, a 3-page fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis, P. Herrera and A. S. Neal, is the Spanish language version of ENY140/IN738 Frequently Asked Questions about the Africanized Honey Bee in Florida. It provides information about Africanized honey bees (AHB) in a question-and-answer format. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2010.
http://edis.ufl.edu/in862

ENY147/IN784 Differences Between European and African Honey Bees

ENY147, a 3-page illustrated fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis and C. M. Zettel Nalen, describes key differences between the agressive African bee and the docile European honey bee, including hive defense and stinging, swarming and absconding, selection of nesting site. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN784

ENY748/IN785 Swarm Trapping for Pest Control Operators

ENY748, a 6-page illustrated fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis and C. M. Zettel Nalen, outlines the standard operating procedures for swarm trapping by certified Pest Control Operators as a means of capturing and removing a nesting Africanized bee colony before the bees become aggressive. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN785

ENY147S/IN863 Diferencias Entre Abejas Melíferas Europeas y Africanas

ENY-147S, a 3-page illustrated fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis, C. M. Zettel Nalen and Pablo Herrera, is the Spanish language version of ENY147/IN784 Differences between European and African Honey Bees. It describes key differences between these two sub-species of Apis mellifera in their hive defense and stinging, swarming and absconding, and selection of nesting site. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in863

EENY429/IN790 African Honey Bee, Africanized Honey Bee, Killer Bee, Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidea)

EENY-429, a 7-page illustrated fact sheet by James D. Ellis and Amanda Ellis, is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes a subspecies of western honey bee occuring naturally in sub-Saharan Africa that has been introduced into the Americas — distribution, description, life cycle and biology, public risks, economic impact, and management. Includes selected references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN790

ENY144/IN771 Choosing the Right Pest Control Operator for Honey Bee Removal: A Consumer Guide

Figure 3. Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn by a PCO whenever dealing with stinging insects.
ENY-144, a 6-page illustrated fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley and J. D. Ellis, guides Florida resident in ensuring that the honey bees on his or her property are safely and professionally removed. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN771

ENY145/IN778 Removal of Swarms and Colonies for Pest Control Operators

Figure 9. Swarm settled on a tree branch.
ENY-145, a 12-page illustrated fact sheet by Michael K. O’Malley, Jamie D. Ellis and P. G. Koehler, outlines for pest control operators the standard operating procedures for removing swarms and colonies. Includes additional resources and contacts. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, November 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN778

ENY146/IN783 Living with African Bees in Florida’s Outdoor Workplaces

Figure 9. A honey bee colony that has been removed from a water meter box.
ENY-146, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley and J. D. Ellis, offers African honey bee related recommendations and precautions specific to outdoor workers in Florida. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN783