Killer bees, also known as Africanized Honey Bees were first identified in 2002. They are now well established in South Florida and several other areas of the state. While these bees are less predictable and a bit more dangerous than European bees, they don’t deserve the title “killer bees.” But for their own safety, Florida residents will need to gain an understanding of African honey bees.

African bees are known for being extremely protective of their nests. Killer bees are more easily provoked than European honeybees. They defend a larger area around their nest. Africanized bees swarm to the defense in much greater numbers, and they chase perceived intruders much greater distances. This combination of traits can easily surprise unwary people and animals with deadly results.

Can you visually tell a killer bee from a European bee? No. The two types are so similar that even bee experts can’t tell the difference. Both have black stripes around their abdomen and fuzzy bodies. The only way to distinguish between them is to do a genetic analysis or do a host of body measurements. Avoiding all bees is the safest way to avoid Africanized bees.

Nesting locations are very different for Africanized bees and regular bees. African honey bees have smaller colonies, so they typically use smaller locations for nests. Examples include inside cement blocks, barbecue grills, and utility boxes. European bee colonies don’t often use these locations. Humans encounter killer bees more frequently because many of these smaller locations are unknowingly provided by people.

Honeybees are considered by some experts to be the most economically important insect in the world. Some estimates indicate that one third of the food we eat would disappear without honey bees. Honey bee pollination in the U.S. has been valued at more than $14 billion by a Cornell University study. Bee pollination services in Florida generate about $150 for every dollar of honey produced .

Experts tell us that it would take between 5 and 10 stings per pound of body weight for a healthy person to receive a deadly dose of bee venom. That’s between 750-1500 stings for a 150-pound person. Nearly everyone reacts in some way to stings. The normal reaction is to swell around the stung area. Less than 1 percent of the population has an allergy to bee stings.

You can significantly reduce the pain involved in bee stings by treating them properly. Don’t let stingers remain in the skin. Venom can continue to be pumped into the body for up to 10 minutes. Remove stingers quickly by scraping in a sideways motion with a fingernail or credit card. Never tweeze or pinch stingers when removing as that could squeeze even more venom into the body.

When it comes to killer bees, the best defense is a good offense. Walk through your property and make note of any potential nesting sites, then eliminate them one by one. Either remove the object that could become a nesting site or block any entrance to the site. Seal all gaps larger than 1/8-inch in walls and around plumbing. Install screens over other openings, such as rain spouts, vents, cavities of trees and fence posts, water meters, utility boxes, etc.

Because Africanized bees are now well established in Florida, any wild colony of bees must be considered potential killer bees. The State of Florida is now recommending that certified pest control operators eliminate any wild bee hives found. Should you locate a colony of bees on your property, contact a certified pest control operator who has a bee removal expert on staff.

Bee removal is our specialty. Florida Bug Inspectors is a professional pest control firm that offers fast bee nest removal. When getting rid of bees quickly is important, call FBI. We serve the entire Tampa Bay area including Apollo Beach, Brandon, Bloomingdale, Gibsonton, Riverview, Ruskin, Seffner, and Valrico.

Wintry weather is at long last nearly over. It’s almost time to think about getting outdoors again. That’s when the kids can run loose, you can fire up the grill and the whole family can enjoy the yard again. But spring and summer are prime time for bugs and other pests as well. Flies, mosquitoes, ants, fleas and roaches are the customary intruders. Here are some helpful hints to help you put a stop to pest issues before they even get going.

Flies need moist organic matter to breed. They like food, food residue, trash and worse. The first step in controlling flies is cleanliness. Don’t leave food out, keep it wrapped and sealed. The same goes for trash. The second step is to keep flies out of the house. Keep doors and windows closed. Keep screens repaired. If necessary fly traps are available.

Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. Get rid of standing water find you see it. Clean the gutters, eliminate old tires, pour out the buckets, bird baths, childrens pools and potted plants at least once a week. Keep swimming pools treated and circulating. Keep screens and doors repaired. Use an insect repellent containing DEET, but read the label prior to applying it to children.

Outside ants, like flies, are always searching for food. Again, sanitation is the key. If the ants can’t find any food, they won’t be a problem. Keeping floors and counters clean will pay dividends. An additional way to slow down ants is to seal your home completely. Caulk every crack and crevice you can find. If needed, ant baits are available. These contain a slow-acting poison. The ants carry the bait back to the next and feed it to the colony and eventually… the colony dies. Finding a bait the ants will eat, and having enough patience, are key.

Controlling fleas is a little | bit |somewhat more complicated than controlling the other pests mentioned. Good flea control requires that you treat the animals involved, the yard and the home… at nearly the same time. The reason is that if you don’t do all three, one will almost certainly re-infest the other two. Many products exist for animals. The Advantage, Revolution, Frontline type products are very effective. Specially formulated boric acid products work very will for carpets, upholstery, and cracks and crevices. Ask your garden shop about products for the yard.

The first line of defense against roaches is…cleanliness… again. Few pests, including roaches will remain if they’re starving. Caulking up cracks and crevices will stop them from entering your home. In case you have a number roaches in your house, roach baits can be very valuable. Be sure to place them in corners or next to walls as roaches will follow walls.

If you live in a location where you have to deal with many of these pests, an experienced pest control professional can be invaluable. Ask what pests they specialize in. some specialize in insects, some concentrate on both insects and other pests such as rats, mice, bats, squirrels and more. When you find a good pest control expert, build a relationship with them. You’ll need them in the future.

Florida Bug Inspectors, a well known Tampa exterminator, has more than 25 years experience solving difficult insect control issues. If you have bugs, call Florida Bug Inspectors.

Termites can infest any home at any time. The best way to achieve termite control is to understand and practice termite prevention. Protecting a home begins with knowing the signs and the conditions that termites prefer so that you can reduce the chances that they find your home a tasty treat. You may already have termite damage and not even realize it.

One type of termite, subterranean termites, lives underground. Unlike drywood termites, they cannot live without access to moisture. They prefer to move directly from the ground into wood. Termite prevention begins by looking for any wood-to-ground contact. If the wood cannot be moved away from the soil, then the soil might have to be moved away from the wood.

Wood that is constantly moist attracts termites the most. They love damp structures. Look everywhere rainfall runoff may occur such as gutters and downspouts. Don’t allow water to pool near the foundation or wooden structures. Termite prevention requires all water to be diverted well away from the home.

Another area of the home to look at for termite prevention is the crawlspace. Not every home has these added spaces, but when they do they can be harbors for trapped moisture. Vents are often routed through these crawlspaces and create a damp environment, ideal for termites and termite damage. Also watch for areas where rainwater may collect.

Many homes feature mulched beds. Anytime mulch is piled against the house, it causes two problems. It provides easy access for termites into the home, and it may also hold moisture against the wood making it even more attractive to termites. Good termite prevention requires all mulch to be pulled away from the house so as to leave a gap between the mulch and the wood.

It’s easy to justify keeping firewood close to a home. After all, in the winter when it’s cold outside, nobody wants to trek out into the elements to gather wood. Yet firewood is often left in the same location throughout the year and this is an attraction for termites. To prevent termites from getting a foothold in the home, make sure firewood is stored away from the structure, preferably far from the home.

Another overlooked aspect of termite prevention is to have an annual inspection. A termite professional knows the difference between termite damage and rotting wood. They can spot potential problems as well as risky areas. The cost of an inspection is inexpensive compared to the cost of potential damage.

Termite prevention starts by understanding that any home or wooden structure is at risk. By understanding these risks, and knowing what attracts termites, any homeowner can greatly reduce their risks. Termite control begins with knowledge, understanding and a healthy dose of termite prevention.

An ounce of termite prevention is worth a pound of termite control. Florida Bug Inspectors has been helping Florida families prevent termite problems for over 25 years. Russ Frank, the owner, is an expert in termite prevention and control. Contact FBI for solutions to your termite problem.