Feature Article - for release the week of April 20, 2008

Dan Culbert – Extension Horticulture Agent

BEE Proofing your Florida Yard

This week our office hosted several seminars for emergency personnel, outdoor workers and homeowners on how to protect themselves in case of a bee emergency.   Training is one of the strongest ways to prevent another tragedy like the one that has effected our community.

Homeowners can also take stock of their Florida Yards and look for potential trouble spots.  Anita Neal, St. Lucie Extension Director, recently teamed up with UF Extension Entomologists  M. K. O'Malley and J. D. Ellis to put together a fact sheet on Bee Proofing your Florida home.  It’s the subject for this week’s column.

As Africanized honey bees (AHBs) continue to spread throughout Florida, the need for awareness and precaution will continue to grow. One AHB characteristic that concerns the public is the bee's ability to nest almost anywhere.  European honey bees -- docile honey bees that beekeepers manage--generally only nest in enclosed areas.  AHBs are more likely to construct exposed nests in proximity to humans.

Residents often deal with many sorts of insect issues--ants invading the kitchen, mosquitoes hovering around a backyard gathering, wasps constructing a nest in the doorway, etc. However, there is a difference between these somewhat routine occurrences and an interaction with AHBs.

Generally, any problems insects cause to people can be fixed with a little common sense and some bug spray. But, when an AHB nest is disturbed, several hundred bees can come out to defend the nest. The resulting amount of stings is greatly increased from that of European bees, and children, the elderly, and pets especially are not able to sustain many stings. Therefore, it is important that any AHB nesting sites be eliminated by bee-proofing the property.

Bee-proofing is the practice of methodically removing or restricting access to potential AHB nesting sites.  If an area is bee-proofed , the potential for wild (or feral) colonies to move into that area is greatly reduced and the risk of stinging incidents is also lowered.

 

Locating Potential Nesting Sites

Colonies that establish themselves inside a wall or around a structure must be eradicated immediately by a Pest Control Operator (PCO). This process can be expensive and often requires structural repair (which also costs time and money).  Bee-proofing a property is an ongoing process that requires an initial inspection to address potential problem areas.  It also it requires follow-up inspections to maintain the bee-proofed area.

The first step in eliminating areas that may be attractive to honey bee nests is actually locating these areas--think like a swarm. What areas might bees favor as a nesting site? AHBs, especially, have been known to nest almost anywhere, yet all honey bees favor certain sites over others. Sites that are potentially attractive to honey bee colonies consist of a small opening that accesses an open, shaded area. Examples are water meters, manholes, holes in a structure that lead to open space inside a wall, gutter down-spouts, pipes, etc.

Other sites where colonies have been found include signs, eaves, hollow trees, abandoned vehicles, empty containers, fence posts, lumber piles, utility infrastructures, old tires, tree branches, garages, outbuildings, sheds, walls, chimneys, playground equipment, etc.

Preventing Nests from Forming

Once an initial inspection reveals what the potential nesting sites might be, the next step is to block-off or remove those sites. This can be done by:

*       Screening: Close off areas by stapling or attaching 1/8^th inch hardware cloth or standard insect screen over the hole. Screening is preferred for restricting access to voids in trees. It is best for closing off vents, drains, downspouts, or other plumbing as the screen allows air/water to pass through while stopping bees from entering.

*       Caulking: Use 100% silicone caulking to seal cracks, crevices, or other voids 1/8^th of an inch or greater. Also, latex concrete-crack filler can be used to seal cracks and crevices in cinderblock or concrete surfaces.

*       Foam: Expanding/insulating foam sealant is best for sealing off holes/cracks in walls. If foam is exposed to weather, be sure to paint the exposed surface to prevent cracking or eroding of foam.

*       Filler: Wood filler or concrete patching can also be used to seal crevices or voids in walls where foam or caulking is not appropriate.

*       Tape: Duct tape can be used to close off holes in water meter covers or other small holes.

A note on closing off holes in walls: If bee activity is detected within or around a hole (bees are seen entering/exiting the hole, bees can be heard within the wall near the hole), do not seal off the opening, for this would force the bees further into the wall and possibly into the structure. The colony must be removed first, and then the opening can be sealed.

Equipment list: silicone and latex caulking, caulking gun, roll of screen mesh, clippers to cut screen, staple gun, staples, wood filler, concrete filler, putty knife, duct tape, expanding foam, and carrying container.

Inspecting Property

It will be impossible to eliminate every potential nesting site: AHBs can nest virtually anywhere. However, it is still important to take steps to bee-proof areas that would be of considerable interest to the bees and areas exposed to frequent human traffic.  Because some potential sites will be left open, it is essential to conduct regular inspections of the property to check for bee activity and to maintain previously bee-proofed sites.

Look for bees entering and/or exiting an area or hole.  This will signal that a colony is nearby. Bees visiting flowers are not a threat.  Swarming season for the bees usually occurs between March and July, although bees can swarm in other months, particularly in southern Florida).

It is vital to inspect weekly during swarm seasons as bees are looking for a fitting nesting site and are more likely to move into an area.  If a colony or swarm of bees is found, it is imperative that a pest control operator (PCO) who offers bee removal services is notified.  PCOs have been trained to use the right equipment and protection for the removal of the bees.  For a list PCOs trained to deal with bees in your area please contact our county extension office or the Florida Department of Agriculture, DPI.

For additional information, visit the AFBEE Program's website at http://afbee.ifas.ufl.edu, the Solutions For Your Life website: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu and our Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu.  If you need additional information on Africanized Honey Bee safety, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons. BEE SAFE!

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Trade  names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean. Last update: 04/17/2008.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert