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LTC 212-2013 Feral Bee Activity within the City of Miami Beach J MIA OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER NO. LTC # 212 -2013 LETTER TO COMMISSION TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Me bers of the ity Commission c ri- FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager' DATE: June 19, 2013 SUBJECT: Feral bee Activity within the City of ami Beach, o �T1 � The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to provide you with information concerning the procedures in place to address resident calls for service related to feral bee activity. Several times each month during the rainy season, the Parks and Recreation Department receives reports of beehives and or swarms on both private and public property. These reports come to the. City, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Police Department in several ways namely phone calls, e-mail messages and the City Web page. - Since the Parks and Recreation Department's Greenspace Management Division is responsible for the oversight of all city- controlled landscape, it is the appropriate service delivery unit to address these requests. When bee related activity is reported, a Supervisor inspects the described location to determine if an active hive or a swarm is present, or just several bees pollinating flowering plants. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, "Swarming is bee reproduction at the colony level. When a colony swarms, the queen leaves the colony along with about 60% of the bees while the remaining colony members produce a new queen. Bees in swarms are generally docile and not defensive as they do not yet have a nest to protect ". A hive is an established bee colony in which the bees can be very defensive and attack if they perceive a threat. If the reported location is on private property, the supervisor attempts to make contact with the property owner to provide the name of a pest control companyfor inspection and resolution. If the bee activity occurs on public property, there are specific actions taken dependent on the situation. If a swarm is present, the surrounding area is taped /roped off to provide a safe zone while the swarm is present. Since swarm - resting locations are generally temporary (one to a few hours) in nature, no attempt to eradicate the bees is made if they are not visibly aggressive. Also, since there is a lead -time between time of call and site arrival of a certified professional, the swarm is generally. undisturbed if possible. In the case of active hives on public property, the pest control contractor is directed to the site and immediately takes the required steps to eradicate the hive. As recommended by the University of Florida IFAS Extension, the hive is eliminated due to the wide distribution of African honeybees and the difficulty in distinguishing between the African honeybees and European honeybees. Unfortunately, due to the highly aggressive nature of African honeybees and the possible toxic reactions to bee sting venom of their victims, the eradication of beehives located on public property is deemed necessary and classified as a public safety matter. A contract is in place with a pest control vendor that maintains the certified Pest Control Operator (PCO) designation -to perform this service. Certified PCOs are the only persons according to Florida law permitted to apply pesticides to bees. In the interest of public safety, bee activity reports are expedited and all actions taken are in direct compliance with Florida law and after careful research. The following attachments provide additional information concerning honeybees from the University of Florida IFAS. Extension (See Attached). Should ou have additional questions, please contact Kevin Smith at (305) 673 -7730. JLM /MM /KS /JO Attachment UNIVERSITY of ENY -144 UFFLORIDA R i IFAS Extension Choosing the Right Pest Control Operator for Honey Bee Removal: A Consumer Guide' M. K. O'Malley and J. D. ElliS As African honey bees continue to spread throughout the Many residents do not wish to eradicate honey bee colonies state of Florida, there is an increasing need for homeown- on their properties because the bees may not have been ers and property owners to locate and contract reliable, disturbed or caused any harm in the past; however, just knowledgeable, and properly trained pest control operators because a colony is calm now does not mean that it will (PCOs). African bees differ significantly in behavior from always be harmless. Honey bee colonies become more their cousins, the European honey bees (the gentle bees defensive once their nest is established as they have some - managed by beekeepers), and African bees can exhibit thing to protect (honey, brood, pollen, etc.). Nest establish - defensive behavior that can potentially compromise public ment can take a few months. Also, there is evidence that safety. Trained professionals who remove honey bee colo- the average queen lives about 6 months to one year. When nies with proper equipment and appropriate procedures a new queen is emerges to replace the old queen, she leaves are essential to providing safe areas for work and play and the colony to mate in the air with 15 -20 different male bees eliminating bees without the hazard of neighbors, bystand- (drones). Therefore, she is mating with any drones from ers, or animals getting stung. This document will serve as a nearby colonies (not with bees from her hive). If African guide to the Florida resident who wishes to ensure that the bees are in the area, there is a possibility that the new queen honey bees on his or her property are safely and profession - will mate with African drones. The resulting offspring may ally removed. display African characteristics. Therefore, a feral colony that was calm (or even European) 6 months ago may be When to Contact a PCO defensive (or even African) today, and should be eradicated. Currently, the state of Florida recommends that all wild (or Florida residents aware of recent news reports about feral) honey bee colonies found in proximity to people (in honey bees will recognize the threat that Colony Collapse walls, birdhouses, trees, etc.) be eradicated by a certified Disorder or CCD is causing to the beekeeping and pollina- PCO. Statistics out of the Southwest show that 50% of tion industry (See Resources section at the bottom of this Africanized honey bee stinging attacks occur in instances document for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey where the victim was aware of the colony's existence but Bees Edis document.). The concern over the disappearance did nothing about it. Therefore, if the nest had been initially of honey bees caused by CCD is both warranted and removed, the stinging attack would not have occurred. important to the industry, and many residents are reluctant to have colonies eradicated as a result of this concern. However, as far as most experts are concerned the African 1. This document is ENY -144, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date June 2008. Reviewed January 2012. Visit the EDIS website at http: / /edis.ifas. ufl.edu. 2. M. K. O'Malley, Extension assistant, and J. D. Ellis, assistant professor, Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non - discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A &M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer - Chancy, Interim Dean bee issue and the disappearance of managed honey bees removal terms, the customer has no recourse if these events are unrelated. This means that eradicating one wild honey occur. bee nest in Florida does nothing to hurt honey bee popula- tions overall. In fact, there can be as many as 100 -200 What to Expect from a PCO bee colonies per square mile in areas where African bees occur. So, even removing 1 colony does very little to the When PCOs are trained to deal with stinging insects and overall population of wild bees. It's simply a public safety removal of honey bees, they are provided with removal issue. State officials are NOT searching for wild colonies procedures that include details such as what types of in an effort to destroy them all. But, they do recommend pesticides to use and when, the best times to remove a that honey bees found nesting in proximity to people be colony, what personal protective equipment to wear, etc. eradicated by trained Pest Control Operators. The following list gives some examples of things you should expect a trained PCO to do. If a Florida resident has a colony or swarm of honey bees on his or her property, it is imperative that he or she contact a trained PCO as soon as possible. A PCO should: How to Find a Trained PCO • Wear personal protective equipment which includes a veil, The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer sting suit and gloves Services (FDACS) maintains a list of pest control opera- tors who have been properly trained by either FDACS or • Be able to recognize if the bees on your property are actu- University of Florida staff to safely remove honey bees. This ally honey bees, and if the bees are in a swarm or a colony list is available from the AFBEE Program website under and be able to explain the difference to you (see docu- the Bee Removal tab and from the FDACS website (links ment in Resources section: Frequently Asked Questions follow in Resources section of this document). PCOs that about the African Bee in Florida for more information have undergone this training possess the necessary skills about the difference between swarms and colonies) to remove and eradicate honey bee swarms and established colonies. •Explain that if the bees are honey bees they could be either African or European because it is impossible to If a homeowner or property owner wishes to contract a differentiate the two without laboratory analyses PCO and is unsure if the pest control operator is trained in honey bees, the homeowner should inquire to ensure Ensure that the area around the bees is secured from that the PCO has been trained for honey bee removal by onlookers, pedestrians, anyone else who maybe in FDACS or University of Florida staff, and that the PCO has Proximity to the bee removal experience removing stinging insects. If a PCO lacks either • Ensure that no penned or tied animals are in or near the of these assets, the homeowner or property owner should bee removal area not contract him or her for honey bee removal. • Possess either a General Household Pest (GHP) license Customers in need of a PCO should consider entering which covers indoor and outdoor removal —or a Lawn into an official contract that states the specific terms of &Ornamental license (L &O) which covers removal of the removal. A contract should detail the colony removal colonies and swarms only if they are located outside procedure— method of applying pesticides, disposal of dead bees, and complete removal of comb. Often, a customer . Apply only pesticides that are labeled for use on honey will hire a PCO to remove a honey bee colony from the bees or labeled for use on the application area (e.g. some walls of a house, but the PCO will not remove the comb or pesticides may not specifically mention honey bees on the inform the customer of the importance of comb - removal. label, but they may specify use in a wall void or ground Several days after the bee removal, insect larvae (including cavity) wax moth larvae and small hive beetle larvae) feeding on the remaining comb can to enter the home, or stored honey Remove from the customer's property all dead bees drips out through the ceiling or seeps into the drywall and all combs associated with the colony. This is an and causes a stain. Without a contract that states specific essential aspect of the removal. If comb is not completely removed, cockroaches and other insects will be attracted 2 to the rotting rood, fermenting hone may produce an g g y unpleasant odor, and melting wax may soak into the wall causing a stain and rendering that wall impossible to paint or wallpaper. • Apply a residual pesticide to help protect against bees F returning to the location; also, a swarm trap or sticky trap may be left in the area for up to one month to intercept any other swarms attracted to that location. • Be responsible for checking, maintaining, and remov- ing bees from any swarm trap or sticky trap left at the , removed - colony location Figure 2. A swarm trap is a cylindrical trap made from recycled wood • Discuss the removal procedure with the customer before pulp and baited with a pheromone lure that can be left along with, or instead of, a sticky trap to intercept bees returning to the area of a beginning the removal. This is essential when the colony removed colony. is located inside a wall or structure. Honey bee colonies Credits: M. K. O'Malley, University of Florida established inside a structure and all comb associated with that colony should be removed as soon as possible, and the customer should be aware that a PCO may need to cut into a wall, subfloor, or other area of a structure to effectively perform the removal. • Discuss bee - proofing with customer after completion of colony and comb removal (see Resources section for Bee - Proofing EDIS document) �I r i Figure 3. Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn by a PCO whenever dealing with stinging insects. Protective equipment should include a veil, full suit, gloves and boots or foot/ Figure 1. A sticky trap is a triangle shaped piece of cardboard material ankle protection. coated with a sticky substance and baited with a pheromone that Credits: M. K. O'Malley, University of Florida attracts bees. Sticky traps can be left in the area of a removed colony A PCO should not. to intercept any bee stragglers. Credits: AlI Florida beeRemoval.com • Attempt to remove bees without wearing appropriate protective equipment • Apply wasp spray or any other substance not labeled for The following list gives some examples of things you should honey bees or the specific application area not expect a trained PCO to do. • Remove established colonies during the day (unless discussed and agreed upon with you, the customer). 3 When colonies are removed during the day, the bees Fax: (352) 334 -0715 that are out foraging for nectar and pollen on flowers will return to the colony location in the evening. This will result in numerous bees flying around the colony location. If daytime removal is conducted, it is recom- mended that the PCO leave a swarm trap or sticky trap to intercept returning bees. • Indicate that the bees are African bees (or European bees) because it is impossible to differentiate the two without laboratory analysess • Charge more for African or Africanized honey bee colonies; it is impossible to differentiate between African r and European bees without a series of laboratory tests. Additionally, the procedure should be the same for removing both races of honey bees —they are, after all, ". the same species. Figure 4. A sample of about 50 dead bees in an alcohol -filled jar ready Identifying the Bees to be sent for testing. Y Credits: M. K. O'Malley, University of Florida Many homeowners are curious to find out if the honey bees that were eradicated from their property were African or European bees. The FDACS lab in Gainesville currently What a Customer Should Know conducts the testing for African honey bees. The testing All Florida residents should be aware of the presence of involves the measurement of morphometric relationships African bees in Florida. This awareness should encourage between specific wing venations and other body parts. If healthy respect and caution of all stinging insects and a after the bees are eradicated, a homeowner is still interested realization of the importance of honey bees nationwide. In in finding out if these bees were African, he or she can addition to being aware of the African bee's presence, it may submit a sample of bees to FDACS, Division of Plant be helpful for a customer to know some basic biological and Industry- Apiary Inspection Bureau. This identification behavioral characteristics of this honey bee. Many resources process is not required (nor even requested) by FDACS personnel. exist to educate Floridians specifically about the presence of African bees. Please see the resources section for more A sample of about 50 dead bees should be placed in an information. alcohol -filled jar, and the jar should be labeled with the date, location, and description of the colony. Please note, Additional Resources a homeowner should never attempt to collect live bees for Bee Proofing for Florida Citizens, EDIS sampling. Once the sample is prepared, a homeowner should contact Jerry Hayes from FDACS for information on http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu /IN741 where to send it: University of Florida, IFAS Extension publication that instructs homeowners and property owners in the specifics Jerry Hayes, Assistant Chief of bee proofing and its importance Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection Apiary Inspection Section Frequently Asked Questions about the African Honey Bee in Division of Plant Industry Florida, EDIS Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services PO Box 147100 http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu /IN738 hayesg @doacs.state.fl.us Phone: (352) 372 -3505 4 University of Florida /IFAS Extension EDIS document that addresses questions frequently asked about the African bee in Florida What to do About African Honey Bees: A Consumer Guide http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu /IN739 University of Florida /IFAS Extension EDIS document that offers recommendations and precautions to Florida's general public about the African honey bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey Bees http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu /IN720 University of Florida /IFAS Extension EDIS document that discusses the details of the CCD phenomenon that is causing the disappearance of honey bees nation wide AFBEE Program or http: / /www.AFBEE.com The African honey bee Extension and Education Program was established by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the University of Florida, and it serves to educate all Floridians about the presence of African bees in Florida. The AFBEE Program website is a clearing house of information on African bees. In the resources section, customers can find fact sheets, presentations, videos, and educational documents catered specifically for their needs. The downloadable list of trained PCOs is available under the Bee Removal tab. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection, African Honey Bee Page http:/Iwww.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/plantinsp/ahb.html This website includes links to videos, fact sheets, press releases, and more. It also includes a list of trained PCOs. 5 UFI FLORIDA EENY 429 IFAS Extension African Honey Bee, Africanized Honey Bee, Killer Bee, Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae)' James D. Ellis and Amanda Ellis Introduction Subspecies of western honey bees are native to Europe and The African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier, Africa but have been spread widely outside their native is a subspecies (or race) of the western honey bee, A. mel- range due to their economic importance as pollinators and lifera Linnaeus, that occurs naturally in sub - Saharan Africa producers of honey. but has been introduced into the Americas. More than 10 Initially, only European subspecies of honey bees (hereafter subspecies of western honey bees exist in Africa and all referred to as European bees) were introduced into the justifiably are called `African' honey bees. However, the term Americas, where they were found to be productive in "African (Africanized) honey bee" refers exclusively to A. m. temperate North America, but less so in Central and South scutellata in the bee's introduced range. America where tropical /subtropical climates dominate. In response to the poor performance of European bees in Brazil, Warwick Kerr, a Brazilian scientist, traveled to cr:= southern Africa to screen African honey bee subspecies for productivity and viability. His visit resulted in the importa- tion of A. m. scutellata into Brazil in the late 1950's. Dr. Kerr hoped that through experimentation and selective breeding, the African bee could be made manageable and available for use by Brazilian beekeepers. As such, he initiated efforts to breed gentleness into the African stock while amplifying its many positive traits. The breeding Figure 1. Adult African honey bees, Apis mellifera scutelatto Lepeletier, effort was not carried to completion because the African on comb in colony. bees swarmed accidentally, ending their initial quarantine. Credits: William H. Kern, University of Florida Following this, the bees began to spread throughout Brazil and into other parts of South America. 1. This document is EENY 429, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date February 2009. Revised December 2012. Visit the EDIS website at http: / /edis. ifas.ufl.edu. 2. James D. Ellis, assistant professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology; Amanda Ellis, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non - discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A &M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of CountyCommissioners Cooperating, Nick T. Place, Dean All subspecies of A is melli era can interbreed or hybridize. p P f y Consequently, African bee hybridization with European bees became frequent as African bees moved into areas previously occupied by European bees. It is this hybridiza- tion with European honey bees that earned them the name Africanized' honey bees. Traditionally, `African and Africanized' have been used interchangeably although the former really refers to the pure race and the latter to the hybrid. Distribution The spread of African bees throughout South and Central America — fueled by rapid hybridization with European subspecies and the dominance of many African alleles over European ones — occurred at a rate of 200 to 300 miles per year. Because their movement through South and Central America was rapid and largely unassisted by humans, African bees earned the reputation of being one of the most successful biologically invasive species of all time. In 1990, populations of African honey bees had saturated South Figure 2a. Native distribution ofApis mellifera scutelatta and Central America and begun to move into the USA. As of 2012, African honey bees had been found in the south - sW.ad of A69esn honey e.., ernmost USA: Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, b j! count y Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida. The spread of African bees in the U.S. continues, albeit at a much slower rate than what occurred throughout South and Central America. This slowed rate of territory expansion appears due to climatic limitations, among ' w other factors. African bees do not survive in temperate I P 1 climates as well as European bees do. Therefore, they have 1 failed to establish populations below about 32° latitude in the southern hemisphere. Although they have expanded beyond this parallel in the northern hemisphere, African ... bee expansion northward also appears limited climatically, being found only below about 34 latitude currently. �= Figure 2b. Spread of the Africanized honey bees in the US by year, by county. http: / /www.ars.usda.gov /research /docs. htm ?docid =11059 &page =6 Credits: USDA ARS Description Morphometric analyses were first used to differentiate African honey bees cannot be distinguished from European Africanized and European honey bees in South America in honey bees easily, although they are slightly smaller than 1978. A more rigorous identification is achieved by genetic the various European races. Laboratory personnel use analysis and often is necessary when the suspect bees are a morphometric analyses to determine the likelihood that a hybrid between African bees and the European subspecies. given colony is Africanized or fully African. With honey bees, the measurement of wing venation patterns and the Other differences between African and European bees size and coloration of various body parts (morphometry) manifest themselves behaviorally. To the casual bystander, are important determinants of identification at the sub- the primary identifying behavioral characteristic of Afri- specific level. Morphometry has been used to differentiate canized bees is their heightened defensiveness compared to honey bee races since the 1960s and remains the first round that of European subspecies. Selection pressures induced of identification when suspect colonies are discovered. by man may be, in part, responsible for this increased 2 of the number of stings received rather than an increased potency of African bee venom, unless the victim is allergic to bees, in which case a single sting can cause death. '4 Another behavioral difference between African and European bees concerns colony level reproduction and nest abandonment. African honey bees swarm and abscond in greater frequencies than their European counterparts. Swarming, bee reproduction at the colony level, occurs when a single colony splits into two colonies, thus helping to ensuring survival of the species. European colonies com- monly swarm one to three times per year. African colonies may swarm more than 10 times per year. African swarms tend to be smaller than European ones, but the swarming bees are docile in both races. Regardless, African colonies reproduce in greater numbers than European colonies, quickly saturating an area with African bees. Further, African bees abscond frequently (completely abandon the nest) during times of dearth or repeated nest disturbance, while this behavior is atypical in European bees. Figure 3. Distribution ofApis mellifera scutelatta in the Americas as of 2007. defensiveness. `Beekeeping' (management of honeybee colonies by humans) is more common in Europe, where the native honey bees have been bred for gentleness and ease of management. In contrast, `honey hunting' (near - complete destruction of hive to harvest contents) is more common in Africa, resulting in a bee that is more defensive of its nest. Other selection pressures that might have led to a height- ened defensiveness in African bees include climatic stresses, resource availability, and predation by birds, mammals, and various reptiles. These selection pressures resulted in an African race of bee that can be many times more defensive than most of the various European races of bee. All honey bees readily defend their nests, and an attack usually means that the victim is too close to the nest. While European races of bees may attack a nest intruder with few bees (usually no more than 10 -20 bees), African bees may attack the same intruder with hundreds of bees. Further, Figure 4. African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutelatta Lepeletier, swarm African bees generally defend a larger radius around their in tree. nest and usually require lower levels of stimuli to initiate Credits: Michael K. O'Malley, University of Florida. an attack. Because of these characteristics, African bees are capable of killing large mammals, including man. This defensiveness has earned them the nickname `killer' bee. It is important to note that their ability to kill humans Another common difference between African and Euro- has nothing to do with their size or the potency of their pean honey bees is their choice of nest locations. African venom. African bees are smaller than European bees and honey bees are less selective when considering a potential probably deliver a comparatively smaller dose of venom to nesting site than are European bees. They will nest in a their victim than do European bees. Because both bees use much smaller volume than European honey bees and have the same type of venom, human deaths usually are a result been found in water meter boxes, cement blocks, old tires, 3 leave the nest rather than remain in the hive. African bees use more propolis (a derivative of saps and resins collected from various trees /plants) than do European bees. Propolis is used to weather -proof the nest and has various antibiotic properties. African colonies produce proportionally more drones (male bees) than European bees. Their colonies grow faster and tend to be smaller than European colonies. Finally, they tend to store proportionately less food (honey) than European bees, likely a remnant of being native to an environment where food resources are available throughout the year. s s� f Figure 5. African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutelatta Lepeletier, swarm',' on palm fronds." Credits: W. H. Kern, University of Florida. house eaves, barbecue grills, cavities in the ground, and hanging exposed from tree limbs, just to name a few places.§ One rarely finds European colonies in any of these locations because they prefer to nest in larger cavities like those x provided by tree hollows, chimneys, etc. As one can imag- ine, humans inadvertently provide multiple nesting sites for African bees. Therein lies the primary reason African bees are encountered frequently by humans." Figure 6. An African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutelatto Lepeletier, A final behavioral curiosity of African bees concerns nest colony between buttress roots of a tree. usurpation (or colony takeover) of European colonies. Credits: W. H. Kern, Jr., University of Florida Small African swarms containing a queen often land on the outside infrastructure of a European colony (a Life Cycle and Biology wall, beekeeper- managed hive, etc.). As time passes, the worker bees in the African swarm begin to exchange food/ Mating biology and developmental time play an important pheromones with the European workers from the colony. role in the success of African bee colonies in replacing This gradually ensures the adoption of the African bees European colonies in an area. For the most part, mating into the European colony. Somewhere during this process, and developmental biology are similar for African and the European queen is lost (perhaps killed by the African European bees, but key differences confer adaptive benefits bees - her fate remains uncertain at this point) and the to the former. African queen is introduced into the colony, thus becoming the reigning matriarch. European bees do not display this Virgin queens of all western honey bees emerge from behavior but often fall victim to it, thus creating an African Peanut hull- shaped waxen cells. After a short time of colony from a preexisting European one. further maturation, a virgin queen will leave the colony to mate with drones. All mating occurs in the air, with the Other behavioral differences between African and Europe- fastest drones being the most successful suitors. Queens an races exist and are worth discussing briefly. For example, will mate multiple times over the course of seven to 10 days African bees are often more `flighty' than European bees, and during this time they will mate with an average of 10 meaning that when a colony is disturbed, more of the bees to 20 drones. Queen bees store semen in an organ called 4 a spermatheca. African colonies produce more drones survivorship in the wild is favored over that of European per colony, so drone populations in an area tend to favor bees. African bees. As such, virgin European queens are more likely to mate with African drones rather than European public Risks ones. Further, flight time and distances of mating flight from the colony tend to result in European queens encoun- Due to their heightened defensive behavior, African honey and bees can be a risk to humans. Children, the elderly, tering African drones more often than European drones, thus setting the stage for hybridization. handicapped individuals are at the highest risk of a deadly attack due to their inability or hampered ability to escape All honey bees undergo complete metamorphosis, but an attack. African honey bees are agitated by vibrations like the time from egg to adult varies by subspecies. The those caused by power equipment, tractors, lawnmowers, newly -mated queen bee oviposits in wax cells constructed etc. Further, their nesting habits often put them in close by worker bees. Fertilized eggs result in female offspring, proximity to humans. Because of this, precautions should either workers or queens. If fed a diet rich in royal jelly, the be taken in an area where Africanized honey bees have female larva will develop into a queen, with the reciprocal been established. These precautions are not suggested to true for the development of workers. Drones result from make people fearful of honey bees but only to encourage unfertilized eggs and consequently only inherit genetic caution and respect of honey bees. The precautions include material from their mother (they have no father). remaining alert for honey bees flying into or out of an area (suggesting they are nesting nearby), staying away from Developmental time varies by caste member (see the a swarm or nest, and having wild colonies removed from development time table) and favor African honey bees places that humans frequent. The latter is perhaps the most because they generally develop faster than European bees. important advice one can heed when dealing with African When bee colonies decide to make a new queen, newly- bees. In the USA, a large percentage of African bee attacks emerged female larvae are fed royal jelly constantly. Because occur on people who know a nest is present but elect not to Africanized offspring, including queens, develop faster than have it removed (or try to do it themselves). European offspring, a queen having an African genotype is more likely to emerge earlier than a queen with a European ► , The first queen to emerge kills her genotype. ueen sisters q g q that have not yet emerged from their cells. The Africanized virgin proceeds to mate in an area having higher densities of African drones. Over time, this results in the colony becoming more African with the European behavior being replaced almost altogether. This process is exacerbated further due to the dominance of many African genetic traits over European ones. Finally, African bees are more resistant to many honey bee pests and pathogens than are European bees. Western honey bees face a myriad of pests and diseases, the most Figure 7. African honey bee, Apis mellifera scutelatta Lepeletier, colony severe of which include Varroa mites ( Varroa destructor), that has established itself in a swarm trap. tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi), small hive beetles (Aethina Credits: Michael K. O'Malley, University of Florida. tumida), and American foulbrood (Paenabacilis larvae). These bee pests almost eliminated all wild colonies of European honey bees in North America. Because African bees are resistant to many of these pests and diseases, their Table 1. The developmental time in days (from egg to adult) of European and African honey bees. European honey bees African honey bees Queen 16 14 Worker 21 19 -20 Drone 24 24 5 If an attack occurs, remembering a few simple recommen- Economic Impact dations will increase one's chances of minimizing the effects The economic impact of African bees in an area can be sub - and severity of the attack. If attacked, a victim should run a stantial. Keepers of European bees often notice a decrease way from the area using his shirt to cover his head and in resource availability for their bees because the density of especially airways. Running through tall grass or small trees African bee colonies in an area, and thus the demand on will help to disrupt the attacking bees. The victim should the available resources is high. Furthermore, cities, mu- not stand and swat at the bees. The bees are defending their nicipalities, etc., often initiate eradication programs, with nest, and the victim needs to get away from that nest as much futility. Finally, the loss of animal and human lives is quickly as possible. It is important that the victim get cover a tragic occurrence, being beyond measurable cost. in a bee -proof vehicle or structure if either is available. One should not jump into the water or hide in bushes. The African bees also may affect the environment negatively. bees can remain defensive and in the area for some period African bee colony densities in area can be very high. of time, thus increasing the risk to the victim. If stung, the Resultingly, African bees may have a substantial impact victim should remove the stinger quickly by scraping it on the native flora and fauna in an area. While this impact rather than by pulling it. One should see a doctor immedi- often is not reported and largely is not understood, it ately if breathing is affected. could be significant considering the potential number of colonies and their need for resources. Thus, the world's most infamous honey bee is among nature's most enigmatic creatures. Management It is important to remember that African honey bees pollinate crops and produce honey just like other races of honey bees. Beekeepers in South Africa use African honey bees as the bee of choice in their operations. So, African bees can be managed efficiently and safely, but the skills required to manage African bee colonies differ from those required to manage European bee colonies. In general, the management of African bee colonies has been discouraged in the U.S. while accepted in Central and South America. This may have to do with the public perception of honey bees, particularly African bees, in the USA and the robust legal system in place in the USA. On the other hand, beekeepers in Central and South America Figure 8. Defensive African honey bees, Apis mellifera scutelatta routinely use African bees in their operations with slight Lepeletier, stinging black cloth and leaving behind stinger and venom management modifications. In fact, some South American sacs. countries are among the leading honey producers in the Credits: W. H. Kern, University of Florida world, due largely to the presence of African bees in the country. Many African bee attacks can be prevented by limiting the number of nesting sites that are available to the bees. A Beekeepers in South and Central America utilize a number homeowner, school worker, etc., can `bee proof' his or her of management practices in order to keep African bees. property by eliminating possible nesting sites. This can be First, they keep single bee colonies on individual hive accomplished by removing any unnecessary debris from an stands rather than using one hive stand for multiple colo- area and closing off wall, chimney, electrical, and plumbing- nies. This limits the management activity to one colony at a related gaps that are more than 30 mm wide using a small- time rather than aggravating other colonies while working mesh hardware cloth or caulking. This will limit bee access only one. to potential nesting sites. Finally, one should check walls and eaves of structures regularly, looking for bee activity. Secondly, beekeepers in South and Central America use ample amounts of smoke when working African bee 6 colonies. It is believed that smoke masks the alarm phero- O'Malley MK, Ellis JD, Neal AS. (December 2007). What mone of the bees, thus lessening the defensive response of to do about African honey bees: A consumer guide. EDIS. the colony. Most South and Central American beekeepers http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu /IN739 (17 January 2008). agree that copious amounts of smoke should be used when working African bee colonies. It is important to smoke the O'Malley MK, Ellis JD, Neal AS. (December 2007). Fre- colonies well before any work is done, for once bees from a quently asked questions about the Africanized honey bee colony are agitated, smoke may fail to calm them down. in Florida. EDIS. http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu /IN738 (18 January 2008). Beekeepers managing African bees wear appropriate protective gear. A typical beekeeper working an African O'Malley MK, Ellis JD, Neal AS. (December 2007). African colony would wear a full bee suit, boots, gloves, and a bee honey bee information for school administrators. EDIS. veil. Bee veils (protective headgear) are worn by almost all http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu /IN740 (17 January 2008). beekeepers worldwide. Traditionally, the veil mesh protect- ing the face is colored black to keep down the sun's glare. O'Malley MK, Ellis JD. (2008). African Honey Bee Exten- African bees (and most honey bees) attack dark colors, so sion and Education Program. http: / /entnemdept.ifas.ufl. black -faced veils often get covered with bees. Consequently, edu /afbee/ (10 February 2010). beekeepers can use white -faced veils to keep the bees off of their veils. Beekeepers managing African colonies often O'Malley MK, Ellis JD. (2008). OF Honey Bee Research and tape their bee suits to their boots and gloves to limit the Extension Lab. http: / /entomologyifas.ufl.edu /honeybee/ (14 January 2008). possibility of bee access. Finally, some beekeepers in areas with African bees try to Winston ML. 1992. Killer Bees: The Africanized Honey requeen African bee colonies with European queens. This Bee in the Americas. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, is not a common practice in sub - Saharan Africa. Most Massachutes, USA. 176 pp. African beekeepers in areas having African bees gladly use the bee in their operations, paying little attention to the bees' defensiveness. Selected References Caron DM. 2001. Africanized Honey Bees in the Americas. The A. I. Root Co., Medina, Ohio, USA. 228 pp. Hepburn HR, Radloff SE. 1998. Honeybees of Africa. Springer - Verlag, Berlin, Germany. 370 pp. Kern, William H. (January 2007).Keeping Africanized Bees out of Wildlife Nest Boxes. EDIS. http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ in682 (21 November 2012). O'Malley MK, Ellis JD, Nalen CMZ. (October 2009). Swarm trapping for pest control operators. EDIS. http: / /edis.ifas. ufl.edu /IN785 (23 November 2009). O'Malley MK, Ellis JD, Nalen CMZ. (October 2009). Dif- ferences between European and African Honey Bees. EDIS http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu /in784 (21 November 2012) O'Malley MK, Ellis JD, Neal AS. (December 2007). Bee - proofing for Florida citizens. EDIS. http: / /edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ IN741 (17 January 2008). 7