Killer Bee Attacks are a real problem in Phoenix.

If you see a beehive or multiple bees hovering around or flying in and out of an area call Atomic Pest Control immediately. We will dispatch our bee expert — a highly trained bee keeper to remove the hive or determine whether one is present. Bees can attack very quickly without provocation and can result in death.

The reason why Phoenix bee removal is so important is because most of the bees in the Phoenix area are Africanized. They are very aggressive and have been known to attack people and animals in massive swarms, sometimes numbering in the thousands.

“Bee safe”. If you spot bees on your property, call the Phoenix Bee removal experts, Atomic Pest Control at 480.832.8888.

I have bees on my property and they appear to be calm and haven’t bothered me. They are probably not Africanized bees, right?

All bees in the southern part of Arizona are considered Africanized unless they are in managed hives that is kept by beekeepers. Africanized bees do not always display aggressive behavior all of the time. All colonies of bees should be considered potentially dangerous and a professional should be called to remove a hive whether they seem aggressive or not.

There is a massive ball of bees hanging from a tree branch in my yard. I didn’t see them there a couple days ago. What do I do?

If there is a cluster of bees hanging from a branch and it has just arrived, it is a swarm. A swarm will rest while scout bees locate their new home. When the scout bees locate a home, they will return to the cluster of bees and communicate the distance and direction of the new location; all of the bees will then take flight to their new home – this process usually takes 1-3 days. It is a good idea to have the swarm removed because there is a possibility that the new location may be in an area around your home.

Why won’t any of the local bee keepers take these bees from my property? I thought there was a shortage of bees.

Many beekeepers do not want to take bees from a property because it is difficult to safely remove a beehive. If a colony becomes aggressive, people and animals in the area will be in danger. Unfortunately, extermination is the safest way to control a bee problem because of the danger of being stung. If a colony is in an area that is away from people and animals, and in an area where they can be contained all at once, then we are able to remove the bees alive. If the bee professional is able to safely perform a live removal, he will talk with you about any additional costs that may apply.

How can I tell if the bees on my property are Africanized bees?

A person cannot tell by looking at a bee whether it is an Africanized killer bee or if it is a European honey bee. A sample of bees would need to be taken to a lab to determine if a bee is Africanized or not. We do know, however, from studies that the majority of feral colonies of bees are Africanized.

How long does it take for a colony of bees to die off once the hive has been treated?

A colony of bees usually takes 2-3 days to completely die off. Sometimes it can take longer depending on the population of bees in a colony. When they are treated, the bees don’t die off right away because they still have bees going back and forth from the hive. We recommend that our customers wait at least 7 days for the colony to completely die off after the initial treatment. If there are still bees after the 7 days, we will return to retreat the colony at no additional cost.

Does your company perform live removals?

Atomic Pest Control will remove bees alive in certain situations. If a colony can be quickly contained without any aggressive behavior, a live removal may be possible. Once a bee professional is on site and assesses the situation, they will determine if a live removal is a safe option. If the bees are not contained properly, you may end up in a very dangerous situation.

Why do I keep seeing bees around my pool (faucet, birdbath, pond, fountain, etc) and what can I do to keep them away?

Bees need water, just like other living organisms, in order to survive. In the summer, bee activity will increase around any source of water they can find because they use the water to help keep their hive cool. It is difficult to keep bees away from a water source, once they have located it. There are not a lot of options when trying to keep bees away from water sources near your home. If you believe that bees are dwelling near or on your property, it is best to contact a professional to see what they can do to locate the hive.

DO check around your house regularly for bee colonies. Check storage sheds, dog houses, meter boxes, flower pots, trees, shrubs, and crevices. Seal cavities and crevices.

DO keep pets and children inside when using lawn mowers, clippers, blowers, or any other equipment that makes noise or could inadvertently disturb a bee hive.

DO be careful moving or cleaning up debris or items that have been lying around outside the house.

DO install a cover over the chimney when not in use.

DO notice if you see a few bees coming in and out of cracks in walls, utility boxes or other enclosed places.

DO have an escape plan in mind if a bee attack occurs.

DO wear light-colored clothing. Not only around your home, but when hiking or visiting unknown areas.

DO NOT pen or tether animals near bee hives.

DO NOT wear floral or citrus perfumes or after shave lotion when doing yard work or hiking.

DO NOT try to remove bee hives without professional help. To get assistance, check your Yellow Pages for Beekeepers, Bee Removal Services, Bee Supplies or Pest Control Services.

DO NOT panic every time you see a few bees in some flowers. Bees are very important and productive insects (when they are not attacking!) which is why there is no wholesale program for destruction of bees.

From About.com

The Africanized Honey Bee, also know as the Killer Bee due to its aggressive stature, poses a serious threat. This species has been present within the United States since 1990 and at peak times of performance has spread as rapidly as one mile per day. The Africanized bee can currently be found throughout the entire Southwest and is almost indistinguishable from the commonly found European Bee. Many scientists predict that if this species continues to flourish within US borders it could result in devastating losses for farmers, beekeepers, and agriculture in general.

Because of the added aggression found within the Africanized Bee, this species is very difficult to work with. When found within nature these colonies are much more likely to attack anything that threatens their hive, and they will pursue a trespasser a much greater distance before returning to their home. Although their sting is no more lethal than the European Bee’s, the multitude of attackers can effectively overwhelm a healthy immune system and result in a very sudden death. Children and the elderly are especially endangered when the Africanized Bee is present, and removal of these hives should only be attempted by licensed professionals who possess the proper safety equipment.

To the dismay of local homeowners, Africanized Honey Bees have set up residence throughout much of Arizona. Although there are a variety of spiders, snakes, and scorpions that carry a much more powerful venom, the Africanized bee is by far the most aggressive insect throughout the state and will chase people or animals up to a quarter of a mile or more if they feel like their habitat is threatened. Once in defense mode the vast majority of the colony will swarm a single victim delivering multiple stings, and this overload of toxin can render a weakened immune system helpless within minutes.

The Africanized bee does show preference when choosing an area to colonize as long as there are ample resources available within the local area for it to survive. Loud noises from lawnmowers or other pieces of outdoor equipment can startle the colony and create a seemingly unprovoked attack, so it is important to survey the area before beginning any outdoor activity. Dark colored clothing is also more likely to draw the Africanized bee’s attention; while working outdoors within the vicinity of a hive light neutral colored clothing is highly recommended. The presence of a single bee is not cause for panic, but it may be a sign that a colony is near and the above precautions should be taken.

It is essential for Arizona residents to properly survey their property in search of this species, and unfortunately Africanized bees have no telltale differences in appearance from the more docile European Bees. While they do in fact serve an important role in the pollination of plants and flowers, health factors far outweigh their contribution to agriculture and a licensed professional should be contacted immediately to remove the hive from your area. If any bee colony is spotted near your residence it is essential that a specialist be contacted immediately; never attempt to extract or destroy a hive on your own.

If you live in Phoenix and discover bees on your property, you have reason to be very cautious as most bees in Arizona are of the Africanized variety. While there have only been a handful of deaths related to killer bee attacks in Arizona, their stings and naked aggression should warrant caution.

If you discover bees on your property, removing a beehive from your property is something that should only be attempted by a professional that is in possession of proper safety gear and is experienced dealing with bees in particular. Species like the European Bee is generally mild mannered and pays little attention to humans unless their hive is directly threatened. This is in contrast to the Africanized Honey Bee, which is much more likely to swarm and attack with little provocation. While fatalities are not common in bee related incidents throughout the United States, those who suffer from allergies or weakened immune systems could face life-threatening problems if repeatedly stung by an angry colony of bees.

The first course of action is to actually locate the beehive. A telltale sign is the presence of many bees coming and going from one particular location; if a hive presence is obvious further inspection should only be conducted by a licensed professional for the reasons listed above. Sometimes the Honey Bee’s home is not easily discovered though, and the easiest way to find it is to locate a good vantage point from a safe distance away and watch where the bees travel after harvesting nectar from a nearby plant. Since this species is comfortable traveling several miles in order to obtain nectar and pollen it is entirely possible that the hive is nowhere near your residence. Often hives can be heard before they are actually seen due to the multitude of bees contained within and their active lifestyle and work ethic. It is not uncommon to see wild hives located underground, in trees, inside chimneys, or even within the exterior walls of buildings and other structures.

Once a pest control expert is contacted, they will arrive at your home with various tools and equipment in order to safely remove this species. They will wear a bee veil and other protective clothing to reduce stings as much as possible. The next step is to exterminate the hive or remove it alive if it can be done safely. If there is honeycomb, it should be removed to prevent other insect problems and a mess of honey that can melt down in the summertime, creating structural damage. The old hive entrances and any other gaps in the area should be sealed to prevent a future bee problem; even with the honeycomb removed, the smell of the pheromones will attract nearby colonies.

During an unsuccessful biology experiment in Brazil back in 1956, twenty-six Tanzanian Queen Bees were accidentally released from captivity and allowed to interbreed with local drones.  The original experiment was to combine the excellent honey producing abilities of the Tanzanian Bee with the docile nature of the European Bee in hopes of a more suitable offspring, and almost the exact opposite ended up happening.  The offspring produced not only harvested honey slightly less than the European Bee but it was also far more likely to swarm and defend its colony aggressively.  This new strain of offspring became known as Africanized Bees or Killer Bees because of these traits, and this species has slowly advanced north and finally into Texas in 1990, Arizona in 1993, and Florida in 2002.

During their northward advancement scientists noticed distinct differences in the Africanized Honey Bee.  They were much more likely to abandon an area if food sources were not readily available, and when a threat was perceived they were much more likely to attack in much higher numbers than was normal for European Bees.  They would also chase intruders much further than their close relatives would, sometimes as far as a half a mile.  This new race of bee appeared near impossible to domesticate because of these traits, so limiting their chances of expansion seemed like the most solid alternative.

Since this species is literally indistinguishable to the naked eye when compared to our native Honey Bees it is often impossible for beekeepers to tell when their hives are endangered before more interbreeding takes place.  Their offspring are also more aggressive and likely to abscond, and the initial effects have already reduced many beekeepers’ hives throughout the Southwest by 30% or more; by replacing aggressive queens this behavior has been somewhat controllable.

If you see any bees in Phoenix, there is a strong likelihood that they are Africanized and will be very aggressive. It is very important that you contact a professional to remove the bees from your property lest they harm your family and pets.

If you have ever heard the expression, “as busy as a bee,” it is an interesting note to discover the phrase originated from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales around the turn of the fifteenth century.  It compared the role of women in society to the lifestyle of worker bees, all of whom happen to be female as well.  The saying is also most definitely true; the life of a bee is almost all business with little time devoted to play or personal reflection.  There are over 2,000 species of bees throughout the world, with the most popular species within the United States being the European Honey Bee.

The Honey Bee’s life begins as a larva, newly hatched from an egg and unable to fend for themselves.  Younger bees are assigned the task of cleaning the hive and feeding the young, so even at early stages of development the Honey Bee is productive and a crucial link within the colony.  Newborn larvae are fed royal jelly at first, and then later are switched to pollen and honey for proper sustenance.  The only ones fed royal jelly during the entirety of their juvenile years are those destined to become queens, or bees that will eventually leave the colony and begin their own hive.

As their life stages progress, young bees are eventually promoted up to other essential tasks such as receiving pollen from harvesters and building combs within the hive through the use of beeswax.  These combs are not only where their precious honey is stored but it is also where future eggs will be laid by the queen.

During the later stages of a Honey Bee’s existence, they almost exclusively become foragers.  By leaving the hive and collecting pollen for the production of honey the European Bee essentially fulfills two natural requirements at once; providing food for offspring and pollinating nearby flowering plants and trees.  A pollinated fruit tree may produce as much as 65% more during harvest, making the Honey Bee possibly one of the most invaluable insects in the history of mankind.

When queen bees are born, their life is completely different in virtually all aspects.  Once they take flight their primary objective is to locate and mate with several male drones away from the colony, and each of the male bees will die after this process.  The queen then returns to the colony fertilized and shortly thereafter departs with a swarm of workers to a predetermined location in order to begin a new home.  A wax comb is the first order of business so the queen has somewhere to begin depositing her eggs, and afterwards her entire life is devoted solely to reproduction.  If she chooses to fertilize eggs they will be born female workers; if she does not then they will become male drones.  This allows the queen to keep a healthy balance over all of her kingdom and to ensure future generations are able to repeat the entire process.