“Bee” on the lookout…

Spring marks the busy season for bees in our landscape, and while they provide an important ecological service, we must be cautious. If you find a bee colony it is best to keep your distance and contact a certified Pest Control Operator (PCO). Though bee swarms are usually docile, during comb building the bees can be defensive. In addition, there is an expanding presence of African honey bees in Florida, which are far more aggressive. It is not possible to visually distinguish the African honey bee from the more docile European honey bee. Please be aware of your surroundings when outside and always watch for flying stinging insects. The following website has more information on African honey bees, including what to do if you are attacked and a list of certified Pest Control Operators in Florida:

http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/afbee/bee_removal.shtml