Identification

Honey Bee (Yellow Worker)

Honey Bee Stinging

Damage by Honey Bees

The African honeybee is a hybrid cross between an African subspecies and the European subspecies. The African is slightly small than its European parent but cannot be distinguished just by looking. Color patterns, markings and body characters are the same, making it impossible to separate them by visual observation. They build the same type of wax nest and may be located in walls, structures, trees or hanging from trees or structures. But, unlike their European cousins they will nest in unusual places like the ground, water meters and even barbecue.

General Information

Like all honeybees they are social insects, living in colonies of 60 to 150 thousand workers, a few drones and a queen. As with most bees and wasps they will defend their colony when disturbed but with a much greater response. Where just a few European honeybees will respond to an intrusion and follow you for several yards, the Africans will respond with hundreds of guards and follow you a quarter to a half mile. The Africans, like the Europeans, can only sting once since the barbed stinger remains in the human or animal, ripping off the last segment, causing the death of the honeybee. The possibility of serious injury or fatality comes from the number of times individuals are stung or due to allergic reactions to insect stings. One does not receive a larger dose of venom when stung, but with a high number of stings, the larger dose of venom can overpower the system's defenses. The African honeybees were initially brought into Brazil from Africa to improve the foraging and nectar gathering ability (genetics) of the European honeybee. However, they escaped and may have become more of a problem than a benefit to the industry. They do the same work of the European honeybees in pollinating flowers and will scrounge at any source of sugar when there is a lack of blooming nectar sources. Africans are known to take over European colonies. They are noted for the process of absconding, where the entire colony picks up and leaves a location due to lack of a food source or disturbances. This can happen several times a year and, in conjunction with swarming, is what accounts for their rapid spread and movement of 200 to 300 miles a year. Moving from Brazil in 1957, they escaped and crossed the United States border in 1990. Since crossing the border in Texas, they have spread West to California through New Mexico and Arizona and east into Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Florida and Alabama have become infested from swarms escaping from ships at ports of entry. Their range will gradually expand as they become accustomed to environmental conditions or through crosses with the European populations.

See management tips for Eurpoean honey bees. When dealing with potential bee colonies, seek qualified individuals such as bee keepers or pest management service providers. Keep a listing of local beekeepers and other qualified individuals and have plans for any medical emergencies.

What About Stings

Wasps, including yellowjackets, paper wasps and hornets can sting multiple times while honey bees can only sting once. (Other types of bees usually don’t sting, but when they do, should be treated like wasp stings.) Honey bees leave the stinger in the skin via a handy barb. Here is where the treatment difference comes in. Immediately after the sting, the stinger needs to be removed. Attached to the stinger is a poison sac that continues to pump venom into the sting site for several minutes. This stinger should not be pulled out; rather, it should be scraped off. A stiff sheet of paper or a credit card works well for this. A wasp sting does not require scraping. After you have identified the offending organism and removed the stinger, be sure to observe the patient for any signs of allergic reaction. If the patient has a history of allergic reactions, shows signs of severe swelling or has trouble breathing, a physician should be contacted immediately. If the patient shows no signs of distress, the sting area can be soothed by applying an over-the-counter product for treating insect stings. Home remedies reported include paste of baking soda or meat tenderizer and water. An antihistamine may also be given to relieve the itching caused by the sting.

Sting Prevention

A few tips on how to prevent or at least minimize being stung.

• Keep sweet items covered.
• Bees and wasps, like children, are attracted to sweets.

This includes recycle bins and garbage cans that contain soda cans or fruit scraps.

• It is recommended that all outside garbage cans be covered with a self-closing lid.
• Don’t walk barefooted on the playground or in the yard.

Bees and wasps are nectar collectors, so they are often close to the ground.

• Don’t harass the wasps.

When a bee swarm or nest is spotted, it is best to leave it at a distance and have a professional come in and remove it at night.

"Three Banded Italian" Honey Bee	"Wild Honey Bee" Colony
Honey Bee (Cordovian Colored Queen)	"Wild Honey Bee" Colony
Honey Bee: Black Worker Bee (Carniolan)	Honey Bee Swarm

Honey Bee Images

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