Africanized honey bees (AHB) are established across South Florida, including Palm Beach County. They look virtually identical to European honey bees. The difference is behavior, and that difference is why untrained bee removal here is genuinely dangerous.

What Makes Them Different

They defend far more of the area around the nest, and they respond to vibration, noise, dark colors and movement much more readily.
They respond in much larger numbers to the same trigger.
They pursue much further from the colony, and stay agitated much longer.
They nest in smaller and lower cavities than European colonies: water meter boxes, irrigation valve boxes, sheds, grills, tires and wall voids close to ground level.

Individual sting venom is not stronger. The danger comes from the number of stings.

Warning Signs of a Defensive Colony

Bees bump or head-butt you when you get within several feet, that is a warning before stinging.
The colony reacts to a lawnmower, blower, edger or power tool from a distance.
Bees follow you when you walk away.
Heavy traffic at a low or ground-level cavity in an open, sunny area.

If Bees Attack

Run. Do not flail, do not swat, and do not stand still. Cover your face and eyes with your shirt while you move.
Run in a straight line to indoor shelter, a house or a car. Keep going, hundreds of yards if needed.
Do not jump in water. They wait. People have been stung badly surfacing for air.
Once inside, stay inside. A few bees that follow you in are far better than the colony outside.
Remove stingers by scraping with a card or fingernail rather than pinching, which injects more venom.
Call 911 for many stings, any difficulty breathing, swelling beyond the sting sites, dizziness, or any known bee allergy.

What Not To Do With Any Suspected AHB Colony

Do not spray it. You will not kill the colony, you will enrage it.
Do not seal the entrance, plug it or set it on fire.
Do not let an untrained handyman, roofer or landscaper open the cavity.
Do not let children or pets near the area, keep livestock and horses well clear.

Why We Still Remove Them Alive

Defensive behavior is a reason for expert handling, not for spraying a colony into your wall. Our technicians are equipped and trained to work defensive colonies, contain the area, remove the bees alive and take out the comb. Spraying an AHB colony leaves the hive inside your structure, keeps the cavity attractive to the next swarm, and does nothing about the honey now melting into your ceiling. See emergency bee removal.

Preventing Colonies From Moving In

AHB colonies favor small, low cavities, which are exactly the ones most homeowners never think about: meter and valve boxes, sheds, grills, old tires, upturned buckets, wall voids near the ground, and gaps behind fascia. Bee proofing closes those before swarm season, which in South Florida ramps up in late winter and peaks through spring.

Suspect a Defensive Colony?

Keep everyone back and call the 24/7 emergency line: 561-371-1722. We cover all of Palm Beach County with a 24-hour response guarantee.

Africanized Honey Bees in Palm Beach County: Safety Guide