![]() However, Africanized bees respond more quickly, send more bees from the colony to drive the intruder away, and pursue intruders farther than European bees do. This is true for both Africanized and European bees. (Photo courtesy of USDA-ARS.)Īfricanized bees are more sensitive to nest disturbance. When disturbed (by activity near the colony, vibrations from lawn equipment, etc.), established honey bee colonies may respond byĪttacking anything within their territory. Despite size differences in these two individuals, the two strains cannot be distinguished visually. ![]() Honey Bee AttacksĪfricanized and European bees are so closely related that it is almost impossible to tell them apart except with genetic analysis or laboratory measurements. However, their behavior is very different.Īn Africanized honey bee (left) and a European honey bee. However, since all the races are the same species, bees from one race can mate with bees of another race. ![]() mellifera, and all have different physical characteristics and behaviors. The Spanish introduced the first honey bee colonies in the early part of the 16th century. Honey bees are not native to the Americas. A new colony will become defensive within 2 to 4 weeks. When a swarm selects a new nesting site, the bees begin building comb in which to store food and rear young. The old queen and about half of the worker bees will leave the parent colony to establish a new colony, allowing a new queen to take over the remaining colony. When a colony prepares to swarm, the bees produce a new queen. Swarms occur most often in the spring and early summer and usually start as colonies become crowded. This behavior is called “swarming,” and it is part of the colony’s normal reproductive process. Honey bees occasionally move all or part of their colony to new nesting locations. There may be as many as 60,000 workers in a healthy, productive colony. They perform most of the functions bees are known for, such as making honey and defending the colony. Bees are likely to sting only when they perceive a threat to the nest and queen. The number of drones is highest in the spring and summer. Their function is to mate with new queens. Drones cannot sting. The queen is the only female that can lay fertilized eggs and she can live 2 to 5 years. ![]() Each bee colony contains one fertile queen, drone bees and worker bees. The honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, is a social insect that lives in colonies. Texas Cooperative Extension publication L-1828, Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets and Solitary Wasps, provides more information on wasps. Their attacks can be severe because they cooperate to defend the nest and because individual wasps can sting repeatedly. Social wasps are quick to sting when defending their nests. Wasp nests are often found under the eaves of buildings or under porches, steps, benches or furniture. The Mexican honey wasp is smaller than a honey bee and very docile there is usually no need to remove its nest. Social wasps form nests of paper-like material. The Mexican honey wasp or Mexican bee, Brachygastra mellifica, is the only wasp that stores honey, but its nest is made of a paper-like material and not wax comb. Wasps are generally smooth or have scattered hairs they also have distinct “waists.” Another way to tell the two types of insects apart is to find the nest or hive. Honey bee colonies build a wax comb in which to rear their young and store food. For this reason, both bees and nests should be removed as soon as possible. Bees can construct large wax nests rapidly once they enter a home.
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