These insects are called honey bees because of the honey they make out of nectar they get from flowers. They’re social insects that can be found all over the world, and they’re beneficial to the environment because of the role they play in plant pollination. Honey bees pollinate more than a hundred crops just in the United States, and there are two different kinds. The European honey bee is docile and is quite common, while the Africanized honey bee tends to be more aggressive.
What Honey Bees Look Like
Honey bees are typically orangish brown or black in color, with adult workers being anywhere from 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch in length. They will have an enlarged area in the rear of their abdomen, which is broadly banded with orange and brown or brown and black. Most of their bodies are covered with pale hairs, which are denser in their thorax region. Honey bees have six legs and a visible stinger. Queens are slightly larger (at about 5/8 to 3/4 of an inch in length). They have a pointed abdomen that goes well beyond the tips of their wings and a smooth stinger. Male honey bees (called drones) are about 5/8 of an inch long, and they don’t have a stinger. Africanized honey bees look like domestic bees, except they’re slightly smaller.
Managing and Controlling an Infestation of Honey Bees
If you live in or are within 100 miles from an area that’s known to have Africanized honey bees, you should never approach a colony, hive, or swarm without putting on a complete bee suit. Schools and day-care facilities should perform daily surveillance, and they should have an action plan in place. They also need to make sure that students and faculty are properly educated.
If you’re being attacked, you should run as fast as you can until you find shelter (such as a vehicle or building). Then, you should start to remove any stingers. If you see someone else being attacked, tell them to run to shelter. But don’t try to help them unless you’re properly suited up because they will attack you as well. You should also call 911 if you feel it’s necessary. If you see European honey bee swarmers in your yard, be sure to contact the cooperative extension service, a local beekeeper, or apiculture supply store to see about getting them removed.
It’s a good idea to manage and prevent honey bees from foraging and nesting around your home, especially if small children or allergic people are around. You can discourage the infestation of honey bees by removing or preventing the access to sugar, food, or water (which can attract them). This can include any of the following:
- Soda cans
- Flowers
- Water dishes
You should also keep any flowering plants away from any of the following areas:
- Doorways
- Decks
- Sidewalks
- Mailboxes
The same is true for areas where there is frequent human activity. You should also keep your lawns free from any white clover and flowering seeds, because they can be attractive to bees. If you have an infestation of honey bees and are looking for a place that does pest control in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with Bug Busters Pest Control.