Did you know your average exterminator doesn’t even own a bee suit? Bee work can be dangerous and requires the proper training and equipment. For the Africanized honey bee, it is crucial.
At The Bug Doctor Inc., we’ve been performing pest control for stinging pests in Ocala for over 20 years and yes, that includes the feared killer bee. If you suspect or see a dangerous hive on your property don’t try and go it alone. Call in a pro who has the equipment and know how that can safely rid you of this potentially dangerous situation.
Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) aka killer bees were developed by interbreeding European bees and bees from southern Africa by a biologists named Warwick E. Kerr. They were accidentally released in 1957 and from Brazil they have spread throughout South, Central and deep into North America advancing their range by some two hundred miles per year. Although the venom of AHB is no more toxic than your common honey bee it is the overwhelming response and numbers of stinging bees that makes them so dangerous. Killer bees can be easier to disturb than their counter parts and will stay agitated for up to 24 hours. Foot traffic to close to the hive, loud noises from passing vehicles or lawn mowers are often more than enough to trigger an attack. It is generally thought that the average adult can sustain up to 500 stings but serious medical conditions will occur thereafter including death. A person under attack should cover their head and run for cover. Once safe from further attack the stingers need to be removed to stop more venom from being pumped into their bodies. Scraping the stinger out with a credit card or a dull knife prevents pressure on the venom sac which ‘squeezes’ more toxins into the body.
This bee spreads by swarming and may travel great distances from the original hive. A new queen bee that has been specially reared leaves the nest and takes with her about 1/2 of the colony. This process is also known as budding and it is the same way which the European honey bee forms new colonies and spreads however the killer bee swarms more often. The new queen may lead her colony many miles away or set up in a suitable location much closer. Factors such as population density, abundance of food and water or natural disasters may effect the distance and direction. Since their accidental release this bee has established itself in the south western States to California and as far north as southern Utah. Florida is also an established area for the bee and colonies have been found in Georgia, Louisiana and Arkansas as well.
The Africanized bee looks almost exactly like the common honey bee and distinctions are only really evident under laboratory settings or from those with extensive training. The killer bees aggressive behavior is unfortunately the tell tale way in which this bee is most often identified.
Due to the dangers associated with this aggressive bee, we highly recommend that you call The Bug Doctor Inc. 237-0122. Even if you choose not to utilize our service please make sure to call in a professional bee keeper or exterminator if you suspect or find a colony. Your safety is to important to risk.
Serving the Ocala area for 17 years, The Bug Doctor feels that knowledge is your best defense against the carpenter ant. Their technicians service residential and commercial structures with the most modern and effective pest control methods. Their staff is trained year round both on and off the field and since they live in Ocala too, they are familiar with the bugs that bother you most and have extensive knowledge on how and where these pests invade your home. So please give us a call and let us prove the value of our treatments and show you why knowledge and friendly staff makes us the best pest control company right here in Ocala Florida. As the carpenter ant is currently swarming in our area and we get more calls, we’d like to take this time to let you know a little about the Florida Carpenter Ant.
As their name suggests, red & black carpenter ants have brownish-black bodies, black gasters and reddish-brown thoraxes. Popularly known in Florida as the Florida carpenter ants due to the large population present in the state, they belong to one of the largest species of ants in the world. An interesting fact about the Florida carpenter ant is that it has accounted for more than 20% of all complaints by homeowners, and a survey in 1995 found that only a few times other species were found in buildings over the carpenter ant.
The red and black carpenter ants eat a variety of dead and living plants and insects, as well as sweets, honeydew, meats and other household items. These ants are nocturnal and forage for food at night. Like other species of carpenter ants, the red and black carpenter ant prefers to nest in partially decayed wood, moist areas and other structures that offer consistent temperature, protection from environmental changes and predators. But they don’t eat wood like the termite. You will most likely find the carpenter ant in your porches or decks due to it being more exposed to moisture. Nesting habits of these two-colored ants are similar to other carpenter ant species. They tend to choose areas with moisture problems, such as attics and ceilings, carpets and flooring, windows, doors, trees and shrubs, woodpiles, and many more.
To identify the carpenter ant, it has antennae that are twelve-segmented. The terminal segment is bullet-shaped, slightly elongated and
has no club. The antennal scape is broad and flattened basally throughout. The waist of a red and black carpenter ant consists of one petiole segment (node), and the tip of their abdomen has a circular ring of hairs. Black and red carpenter ants have long golden colored body hairs. A key characteristic of all carpenter ants can be seen in the Florida species: their thorax is evenly convex. Sexually active male carpenter ants are smaller than the queens, but have proportionally smaller heads and larger wings. Both male and female winged forms possess two pairs of wings, which are unequal in size. Most homeowners mistake a swarm of carpenter for termites and are unsure on how to tell the difference, just look for the waist, if there is none it will be a termite. I hope this information will help you and if you are still unsure about the problem you are having feel free to give us a call at The Bug Doctor and let us show you why so many people have chosen us as their pest control company.
