Africanized Honey Bees (AHBs), are also called "killer bees".  Although the bees' "killer" reputation has been exaggerated, its presence will likely increase the chances of people being stung.  Learning about the AHB and taking certain precautions can lower the risk of being injured.  The AHB is "identical" to the European honey bee (EHB) used in agriculture for crop pollination and honey production.  Neither the AHB or EHB is likely to sting while gathering nectar and pollen from flowers.  However, both bees will become defensive when they begin producing honeycomb and rearing their young.

Hives of European honey bees (EHBs) managed by beekeepers play an important part in our lives.  These bees are necessary for the pollination of many crops.  One-third of our diet largely depends on honey bee pollination.  People can coexist with the AHB by learning about the bee and its habits, by supporting beekeeping efforts, and by taking appropriate precautions to avoid being stung.  Efforts taken to control AHBs must assure the continued maintenance of beekeepers' hives.  If the European honey bee were eliminated in an area, the wild Africanized honey bees would quickly fill the gap.

The homeowner should be alert for these signs of honey bee activity:

• Straight flight path between a nectar sources and the colony site.

• Steady stream of bees coming and going from a single location (possibly a colony).

• Presence of a "swarm cluster" consisting of 3,0000 (baseball size) to upwards of 50,000 (basketball size) bees.

When a colony becomes overcrowded, the resident queen and up to half of the worker bees leave to establish a new colony. These bees may land and temporarily cluster on either a branch or fence until a permanent site is found. While swarms are not generally aggressive, caution should be used with any large cluster of bees.

Foraging bees are passive individuals searching for either pollen, nectar, or water. The typically will move from flower to flower or visit standing sources of water to obtain moisture used to cool their colony. 

Avoid the area and keep children and pets away from the sward or colony.  Do not attempt to control the bees yourself.  Call a professional.

As a general rule, stay away from all honey bee swarms and colonies.  If you accidentally encounter bees, do not panic, but remain calm and quietly retreat until the bees are out of sight.  If forced to run, use your arms and hands to protect your face and eyes from possible stings.  Quickly take shelter in a car or building.  Water or thick brush does not offer adequate protection.

Do not disturb or tease bees, and do not try to remove the bees yourself.   Do not shoot at, spray water, throw rocks at, or douse bee colonies with chemicals.  This will only irritate the bees.  Also, do not attempt to control bees with aerosol pesticides.

General Precautions:

• Listen for buzzing, indicating a colony or swarm of bees.

• Look for bees flying back and forth in a straight line.

• Use care when entering sheds or outbuildings where bees may be established.

• Examine work area before using lawn mowers, weed cutters, and other power equipment.

• Examine areas before tethering or penning pets and livestock.

• Be alert when participating in all outdoor activities.

• Do not disturb a colony or swarm - contact a professional.

• Teach children to be cautious and respectful of all bees.

• Check with a doctor about bee sting kits and procedures if sensitive to bee stings.

• Develop a safety plan for your home and yard.

• Organize a meeting to inform neighbors about the AHB to help increase neighborhood safety and awareness.

 Wasps generally are considered beneficial insects because they feed on other insects, but control often is necessary when wasps build their nests in undesirable locations.  While a hornet nest high in a shade tree poses little threat to the public, a nest near the entrance to a home or business is another story.

Of the order Hymenoptera, some wasp species are solitary, not forming colony groups.  Other species are known as social wasps, living in colonies complete with a queen , sterile female workers and males (drones).  Social wasps of the Family  Vespidae, including yellow jackets, hornets and paper wasps, tend to be the most likely to sting humans.  Stinging behavior generally is a defensive action, occurring when a colony or individual wasp is threatened.

In northern temperate regions, new wasp colonies must be founded each year.  Only mated queens over winter and emerge in the spring to begin a new colony.

A queen typically lays 10 to 20 eggs in the spring, placing each egg in a cell in the nest.  She is responsible for foraging for food and feeding the young until the first sterile females emerge.  They take over nest building and rearing of the brood, while the queen narrows her duties to egg laying.

By the end of the summer, each nest may have multiple combs, as well as thousands of cells and workers.  Adult males and fertile females are produced during late summer or early fall.  After mating, the colonies die off, and newly mated queens find a place to over winter.

The common yellow jacket, which usually builds its nest below ground or in a protected aerial location, produces large populations.  Often up to 3,000 yellow jacket workers are found in a single nest, and populations live into late fall.  Yellow jackets are typically about one-half-inch long.

The European hornet, also known as the brown or giant hornet, is the only true hornet found in North America.  Its brown body, which may be nearly 1 1/2 inches longs, is marked with orange.  Hornets prefer to build nests in hollow trees and logs but may be found in wall voids and attics.

Paper wasps, also known as umbrella wasps, often suspend their single-comb nests from the eaves of houses, porch roofs or other horizontal surfaces.

While bees feed their young on pollen and nectar, most wasp species feed their young on animal protein matter, including insects and spiders.  Wasps exhibit scavenging behavior, competing with humans at picnics and barbecues for meat and other sources of protein.

Adult wasps feed on fruit juices and other sweet materials.

Foraging wasps of some species are more likely to stings humans at certain times of the year.  For example, yellow jackets tend to sting more in August and September as they near the end of their life cycle.  

Social wasps are highly protective of their nests and will sting to defend them against potential invaders.

Control of wasp species becomes necessary when human safety is jeopardized.  A wasp sting involves the injection of a potent venom and protein material. While a sting usually results in intense pain and some swelling, some people are highly allergic.  Severe reactions due to wasp stings are estimated to cause at least 40 deaths in the United States annually.

 Because social wasps like yellow jackets and hornets are active outside the nest during the day, control measures should be instituted at night when most of the colony is in the nest.  If necessary, treatment for the less aggressive paper wasp can be instituted during the day.

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