Africanized honey bees are slightly smaller than their European counterparts. [2] X Expert Source Scott McCombePest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019. They can be distinguished by their golden-brown color, thin coating of fur on their bodies and bulbous, striped tail sections. [3] X Research source They also tend to live in exposed colonies found in tree cavities, old tires, overhangs, or tree limbs. [4] X Expert Source Scott McCombePest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019. Despite the uniformity of their appearance, it usually requires an expert eye to tell the difference between a normal honey bee and a dangerous killer bee. [5] X Expert Source Scott McCombePest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
Professional bee removal services may be costly, but are the safest way to get rid of an infestation. Not all commercial pest control services may be equipped to deal with killer bee infestations. Call the company and ask if this is within their capability.
While bees can be killed with sprays and other remote means, the hive usually has to be removed manually.
Keep an eye out for where bees are coming from and returning to. By tracking their movements, you can often locate their nest. Killer bees are found in southern U. S. , including California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Fortunately, they don’t appear to be able to move further north because they can’t tolerate colder temperatures. [9] X Expert Source Scott McCombePest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
Killer bee venom is no stronger than that of common varieties of honey bee, but they tend to swarm in overwhelming numbers and are much more easily provoked. [12] X Research source Avoid wearing strong fragrances or causing a commotion when preparing to raid a killer bee nest. Unusual stimuli may draw their attention and incite them to swarm.
Natural pesticide mixtures like soap and water provide a welcome alternative to using chemical agents that can harm other species and damage the environment.
Using a liquid spraying system in place of a spray bottle might make it easier to reach nests that are built deep inside narrow openings.
When handling a hive or comb, watch out for any bees that might remain inside. Thoroughly rinse the area where the nest was found with a garden hose after it’s been disposed of to eliminate scents that might attract other bees.
Insecticides contain highly toxic chemicals. Always use them in a well-ventilated area when possible and keep your nose and mouth covered to prevent breathing in the spray yourself. Insect sprays will be less effective at killing bees in open spaces where the chemicals quickly dissipate.
Don’t be too heavy-handed with the insecticide spray. Use enough to neutralize swarming bees, but remember that the more poison you release, the more you’ll have lingering in the air and on surfaces around your home. If the bees become agitated and begin to swarm, make a break for it and try again at a later time or call a bee removal service. Better safe than sorry.
Use a pressure washer to take down a hanging beehive from a safe distance or flood hard-to-reach crevices. With the nest destroyed, surviving bees will move on and look for another place to build.
