Africanized honey bees (AHBs) are a hybrid subspecies of the Western honey bee. They first emerged in the Americas after an accidental release from a Brazilian research facility in 1957. Scientists initially sought to combine the African bee’s hardiness with the European bee’s gentle nature, but the resulting hybrid quickly spread throughout South and Central America. AHBs subsequently migrated northward, establishing permanent colonies in the southern United States by the early 1990s.
AHBs are known for their highly defensive behavior, which is significantly more pronounced than that of European honey bees. While the venom of a single AHB sting is no more potent, the threat arises because they attack in much greater numbers. Their response to a perceived threat is swift and overwhelming, often leading to victims receiving ten times more stings. Any removal attempt is an extremely high-risk situation, necessitating the immediate involvement of trained professionals.
Identifying Africanized Honey Bees
Distinguishing an Africanized honey bee from a European honey bee by size or appearance is impossible, as they are nearly identical in color and body structure. The slight size difference is so subtle that definitive identification requires specialized laboratory testing, such as DNA analysis or precise morphological measurements. Instead of focusing on physical traits, recognizing the behavioral patterns of AHBs offers the best field identification.
Africanized colonies exhibit an extreme defensive perimeter around their nest, reacting to disturbances much faster and with greater intensity. Guard bees may begin to attack with minimal provocation, such as vibrations from lawnmowers, footsteps, or nearby pets. When an attack is triggered, a significantly larger number of bees will participate in the defense compared to European colonies.
AHBs are known for their persistent pursuit of a threat, often chasing victims for a quarter of a mile away from the hive. European honey bees typically defend a much smaller radius of about one to twenty yards from their colony. Africanized bees also favor nesting in smaller, more exposed cavities, unlike European bees that prefer larger, established tree hollows. Common nesting sites include water meter boxes, overturned pots, old tires, or holes in the ground.
Immediate Safety Measures During an Encounter
If you encounter an Africanized honey bee colony and trigger a defensive response, run immediately and quickly. Sprint in a straight line toward the nearest secure, enclosed shelter, such as a building or a vehicle. Do not stop running until you are completely inside a secure space with all doors and windows closed, as AHBs pursue targets for long distances.
While running, use your hands, shirt, or jacket to cover your head and face, protecting your eyes, nose, and mouth from stings. Bees are attracted to the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath, so shielding the airways protects the most sensitive areas. Avoid swatting at the bees or flailing your arms, as crushing a bee releases an alarm pheromone that attracts and further agitates the swarm.
Do not attempt to hide in thick brush or jump into water to escape. Africanized honey bees will wait for a victim to resurface for air, concentrating the attack on the face and head. Once inside a safe location, immediately scrape out any embedded stingers using a flat object like a credit card or fingernail. Avoid using tweezers or pinching the stinger, which can squeeze more venom into the skin.
After the attack, monitor for severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, widespread swelling, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat. Seek emergency medical attention right away if these signs appear, as a massive dose of venom can be fatal without prompt intervention. For pets or livestock, ensure they have access to an enclosed shelter or barn in AHB-prone areas, as their inability to escape makes them especially vulnerable.
Professional Removal and Extermination Procedures
Attempting to remove an Africanized honey bee nest without training and specialized equipment can result in severe injury or death. Licensed pest control operators or beekeepers trained in aggressive bee removal are the only appropriate contacts for managing an AHB infestation. These professionals possess the necessary full-coverage protective suits designed to prevent stings.
Removal is typically scheduled for late evening or early morning hours when the majority of foraging bees have returned and the colony is less active. This timing maximizes the number of bees eliminated, preventing survivors from returning to re-establish the colony. The initial step often involves applying an approved insecticide dust or spray directly into the nest entrance to quickly neutralize the colony.
A specialized vacuum device is often used to remove the majority of the bees before applying treatment to the remaining population. If the nest is located within a wall or structural void, the entire honeycomb and hive material must be physically removed after the bees are eliminated. Leaving the comb behind can attract secondary pests, lead to spoilage, and emit odors that draw new swarms to the location.
After the nest is fully extracted, the area must be thoroughly cleaned and all entry points must be permanently sealed with caulk, wire mesh, or expanding foam. Structural work, such as cutting into a wall, is often required to access and remove the comb for long-term prevention. While trained beekeepers may attempt live relocation for European honey bees, Africanized colonies are generally exterminated due to the safety risks they present.
Preventing Future Infestations
Preventing Africanized honey bee problems requires “bee-proofing” the property by eliminating potential nesting sites. AHBs are opportunistic nesters, frequently colonizing small, enclosed spaces that European bees would overlook. Homeowners should inspect their property for any gaps or openings that bees could use to access a void space.
Any crack, crevice, or opening larger than one-eighth of an inch must be sealed completely. Use caulk, cement, or fine-mesh hardware cloth to block access to wall voids, eaves, and attic spaces. This includes gaps around utility pipes, chimneys, and electrical conduits.
Pay particular attention to man-made cavities:
- Water meter boxes
- Utility boxes
- Unused sheds
- Hollow ends of fence posts
Eliminate clutter from the yard, removing piles of lumber, scrap metal, old tires, or debris that offer sheltered nesting spots. During the swarming season, which runs from early spring into mid-summer, homeowners should perform weekly inspections for any signs of bee activity. Catching a small, newly established colony before it grows into a large defensive hive significantly reduces the risk and complexity of removal.