Appearance:
Africanized honey bees (killer bees) are yellowish-brown with dark brown bands on the abdomen. They are almost identical to common European honey bees; the difference can usually be determined by measuring their wing size.

Size:
Approximately 3/8 to ½ inch in length.

Behavior:
The Africanized honey bee is a result of mating between African honey bees and European honey bees. They resulted from an experiment in the mid-1950’s designed to breed a superior honey bee that was suited to tropical conditions. However, the African queens escaped and interbred in the wild with European honey bees, resulting in “Africanized” offspring.

The venom of the Africanized honey bee is no more poisonous than that of the European species. However, they are more defensive if provoked, respond faster and in larger swarms, and will travel greater distances from their nest to chase an intruder. Also, vibrations from motors and loud noises, such as the sound of a lawnmower, seem to disturb them greatly.

Africanized honey bees are no more likely to sting than European honey bees-the venom of both types is almost identical- and they are not indiscriminate hunters. The term “killer bee” is actually somewhat of a misnomer.

Africanized honey bees typically colonize large areas and will leave the colony altogether and exhibit a trait known as “absconding”; they will move to a new location if their environment does not suit them, such as harsh winters or very dry summers. They may abscond on flights of several miles.

Habitat:
Africanized honey bees are not particularly discriminating when it comes to choosing nesting sites. They often build nests in the ground, in cavities in trees and under buildings, old tires, abandoned vehicles, in sheds and other outdoor structures, etc. In rare cases a colony will decide to nest inside an attic, a crawl space, or a wall void in a home, but more so if it is unoccupied. They have spread through South America and most of the southwestern U.S., and have also been found in Florida.

Economic/Health Concerns:
European honey bees that interbreed with Africanized honey bees are harder to control as pollinators and may produce less honey. This should be considered since honey bees produce about $150 million worth of honey a year and add at least $10 billion to the value of more than 90 crops in the U.S. as they are natural pollinators. They are a vital link in U.S. agriculture.

Their venom is similar to European honey bees; both leave their stinger in the wound with a tiny venom sac attached and can only sting once before they die due to abdominal rupture. Stings can be painful; however most deaths that have been attributed to Africanized killer bees occur from severe allergic reactions, often from many stings resulting from a disturbed nest.

Control:
Africanized honey bees cannot be distinguished with the naked eye and should be treated with caution as one would with other bees or wasps. If a nest or nesting site is found it should be handled by a pest control professional and/or beekeeper.

If you do disturb a nest and start to get stung, try to stay calm and get away as quickly and safely as possible. Cover your head and with a jacket or shirt and run in a straight line into the nearest shelter. Africanized honey bees have been known to nest in utility boxes; to prevent this from occurring, seal cracks and holes or cover them with small-gauge wire mesh. Also check the walls and eaves of all structures and approach abandoned structures with caution.

If you are stung, gently scrape the stinger out to remove it. Promptly applying a paste of meat tenderizer with water or vinegar to the stung area will soothe the pain. The meat tenderizer contains the enzyme papain, derived from papaya, breaks down protein, which is why it tenderizes meat. Venom contains proteins, which is probably why this remedy works.

If you are stung and have a known allergy to bee or wasp stings, seek medical attention immediately.

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