Tag Archive for: tampa killer bees

Killer bees in Florida took a different route than they did anywhere else in the United States. Instead of flying in over the border like they did in Texas and Arizona, Africanized honey bees arrived by ship, and they eventually took hold around Tampa Bay. Today Florida’s extension service describes them as established across the southern half of the state. This guide covers how they got there, where they nest, who gets stung, and Florida’s rules for removing a colony. It’s part of our Killer Bees 101 guide.

Quick answer: are there killer bees in Florida?

Yes. University of Florida (UF/IFAS) entomologists say Africanized “killer” bees were first documented near the Port of Tampa in 2001, had established colonies around Tampa by 2003, and “have spread throughout the southern half of the state.” The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) says their population “has grown and will continue to grow.” In Florida, most sting victims are pets and farm animals, not people.

How killer bees came to Florida

Most of the U.S. range of Africanized bees grew from natural spread out of Mexico. Florida is the exception.

UF/IFAS researcher Glenn Hall said in 2005 that African bees had “periodically turned up at Florida’s deep-sea ports since 1987.” For years, swarms arriving through ports such as Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa were caught in bait hives maintained by FDACS. Florida set up the country’s first African honey bee detection program, run jointly by FDACS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with bait hives at ports and training for ships’ crews and dockworkers.

Eventually some colonies slipped through:

• 2001: UF/IFAS documents the first African honey bees in Florida near the Port of Tampa.
• 2002: FDACS records Florida’s first positive identification of an Africanized honey bee in the Tampa Bay area. (UF and FDACS date the first find slightly differently.)
• 2003: Colonies are established in and around Tampa, according to UF/IFAS.
• 2005: USDA ARS reports Africanized bees in Florida for the first time in its official tracking, noting the arrival “was not contiguous” with the spread from the Southwest and was most likely human-assisted transport. Because they’d been found in 14 counties, Florida considered them established.

Hall said at the time that researchers “did not believe that enough bees could arrive on ships to form an established population, but they did so in Puerto Rico, and now appear to be doing the same in Florida.” For the wider story, see The History of Killer Bees.

Where killer bees live in Florida

UF/IFAS describes Africanized bees as having spread through the southern half of the state from their foothold around Tampa, hybridizing with local European honey bees. Florida’s warm climate suits them. Hall noted in 2005 that the state’s climate is ideal for these bees, which evolved in tropical and subtropical Africa.

FDACS’s FAQ says nearly 500 bait hives are in place statewide, mostly in port areas, along Interstate 10, and on the Florida–Alabama border, checked on a three-week cycle. For where the bees sit nationally, see Where Do Killer Bees Live?

How to tell if Florida bees are Africanized

FDACS says it is “impossible to visually distinguish Africanized honey bees from European honey bees.” UF/IFAS explains that Florida uses a morphometric test called FABIS (Fast African Bee Identification System), and if a colony is still questionable, a more comprehensive test called USDA-ID.

What FDACS does highlight are the behavioral differences:

• Africanized bees defend their nests “with less provocation, in greater numbers and for longer distances.”
• They swarm as many as 16 times a year, compared with once or twice for European bees.
• They’re not selective about nest sites and will quickly move into empty spaces, holes, and cavities.

Where killer bees nest in Florida

UF/IFAS says Africanized bees nest in much smaller spaces than European honey bees, often 1 to 5 gallons compared with about 10 gallons. They’ve been found in water meter boxes, cement blocks, old tires, house eaves, barbecue grills, cavities in the ground, and hanging exposed from tree limbs. UF/IFAS also notes they’ll nest in damp underground cavities, which European bees usually avoid.

Because the colonies are small, UF/IFAS says they “often go undetected until disturbed.” That’s the core risk in Florida neighborhoods. Learn the warning signs in our guide to where killer bees build nests.

Who gets stung in Florida

UF/IFAS reports that “although some humans do get stung by African bees every year, most sting victims are pets and domestic animals because they are unable to escape tethering, corrals, kennels, etc.” If you keep dogs on a tie-out or horses in a pen, check the area for bees first. Our guide Protecting Pets and Livestock from Killer Bees covers that in detail.

FDACS also offers some perspective: “Generally, the chances of being struck by lightning are far greater than injury from any stinging insect.”

Florida’s rules for removing a killer bee colony

Florida has unusually clear guidance. According to UF/IFAS, the state recommends that feral honey bee colonies nesting near people or domestic animals be either:

1. Removed from the nest site by a beekeeper registered with FDACS or a trained pest control operator (PCO), or
2. Eradicated by a licensed PCO.

UF/IFAS notes that “it is the responsibility of the property owner to deal with an unwanted swarm or colony of honey bees.” Registered beekeepers may remove colonies or swarms only if they use no pesticides. FDACS publishes a list of registered beekeepers and PCOs who offer removal or eradication. UF/IFAS also warns against leaving a colony alone because “the bees seem calm,” since a small colony can grow larger and more defensive. More on choosing help is in How to Get Rid of Killer Bees.

Killer bees and Florida beekeeping

Florida’s beekeepers are a big part of the state’s defense. UF/IFAS says every beekeeper in Florida must register with FDACS’s Division of Plant Industry and follow best management requirements designed to keep managed colonies European. State apiary inspectors check registered beekeepers’ hives at regular intervals, and UF/IFAS recommends requeening any colony that turns unusually defensive.

FDACS says managed hives are “the first and best defense against an area becoming Africanized,” because European bees dilute the Africanized population and prevent takeovers of European hives. That matters economically, too. FDACS says Florida’s honey industry consistently ranks among the top five in the nation, with an annual value of more than $13 million, and pollination is worth even more.

UF/IFAS adds that Florida has run African honey bee training programs so first responders and pest control operators know how to handle a bee attack.

Bee safety tips for Floridians

UF/IFAS recommends a family bee safety plan:

• Listen and look for bees entering or leaving one spot, a sign of a nest or swarm.
• Enter carefully into garages, sheds, grills, and old cars where bees might nest.
• Check before using lawn mowers, blowers, or chain saws.
• Never disturb a swarm or colony.
• Carry epinephrine if you know you’re allergic, and tell the people you’re with.

FDACS adds a simple rule for the outdoors: “Look, Listen, Run.” If bees attack, run, cover your nose and mouth, and get into a building or car. Don’t jump into water or hide in bushes. Full steps are in What to Do If Killer Bees Attack.

Frequently asked questions

When did killer bees come to Florida?

UF/IFAS dates the first documentation to 2001 near the Port of Tampa. FDACS dates its first positive identification to 2002 in the Tampa Bay area. Colonies were established around Tampa by 2003.

What part of Florida has killer bees?

UF/IFAS says they’ve spread through the southern half of the state from the Tampa area.

Are killer bees in Florida dangerous?

They’re more defensive than European honey bees, but FDACS says a single sting is no more venomous. Most Florida sting victims are pets and confined animals.

Can I kill a bee colony myself in Florida?

Florida recommends removal by a registered beekeeper or trained PCO, or eradication by a licensed PCO. The property owner is responsible for arranging it.

Who do I call about bee stings in Florida?

FDACS lists the Florida Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 for bee sting information. Call 911 for an attack in progress or a severe reaction.

Do beekeepers’ hives help against killer bees?

Yes. FDACS says managed hives are “the first and best defense” because European bees dilute Africanized populations.

Sources

• UF/IFAS EDIS ENY-170, “Living with the African Honey Bee”
• UF/IFAS EDIS ENY-147, “Differences Between European and African Honey Bees”
• UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-429, “African Honey Bee, Africanized Honey Bee, Killer Bee”
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “Africanized Honey Bees”
• FDACS, “Africanized Honey Bee FAQ”
• FDACS, “Honey Bee Removal or Eradication in Florida”
• USDA ARS, “Africanized Honey Bees Are Still on the Move” (2006)
• University of Florida News, “Bee Aware! African Honeybees Becoming Established in Florida” (2005)