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.