Get rid of Killer Bees

[RickJ]

Ok! I live in El Paso, Texas, this morning I walked into my house several times from my back door and never saw or heard a bee. I worked late today and my wife called at 1900 Hrs to tell me that a huge swarm of Bees were on our back porch, I thought it was a little bee hive but when I got home and looked at it, oh Man! must be at least 10,000 Bees.

My first thought is they just appeared and in such a large group, so maybe they are flying south, do Bees do that?

I think they are Africanized Killer Bees, my big concern is I have two small children, any suggestions would be great.

RickJ

 

[scotchleaf]

That is when the bees, in my understanding, have split the hive and one half (with a new queen) is seeking a new location. I've had 'em on the side of my house - in Georgia - no one got stung (we have 2 little ones also). Have they gone away?

 

[RickJ]

No the Bees have not gone away, just really got here today so I don't know but I would like them to go away like now!

RickJ

 

[tonym]

If they're not gone by tomorrow I would callan exterminator. If they are Africanized they are not dangerous until they build the hive. Once they have something to defend they are extremely aggressive! Becareful!

 

[j williams]

Yeah man, call someone. Better to be safe. Be carefull man, guard the kiddies.

 

[RickJ]

I will see if they are gone in the morning, if not and it looks like they making a hive, then I will call an exterminator. I am afraid it will be superhuge by tomorrow! got to be at least 10,000 bees out there. I allready told the wife not to let the Kids out there, that is my big worry so we will haveto keep a close eye out for them.

RickJ

 

[on_the_edge]

If it is any relief, chances are that they will be gone tomorrow and are just resting for the night. It happens around here all the time, and 99% of the time, the FD just says to stay clear and they'll be gone soon.

The only time you might have an issue is if they find a place to nest, and that happens to be your attic, for example. If that happens, exterminating them the right way usually takes time. An exterminator will put poison at their entrance that will ultimately be taken back to the queen. It will kill the queen, but the presence of her phermones will still last for a bit, meaning that a lot of bees will still be coming around for a few days. Again, though, I don't think this is something you are going to have to deal with. My $ says they'll be gone in the morning. Just leave them alone for now.

 

[k_estela]

Where is Joezilla when you need him. He's a true Bee freak and could help us out here!

 

[DrivebyTrucker]

That is when the bees, in my understanding, have split the hive and one half (with a new queen) is seeking a new location. I've had 'em on the side of my house - in Georgia - no one got stung (we have 2 little ones also). Have they gone away?

Right on the money. My friend is a bee removal specialist and we sometimes talk about bee's and bee behavior. I have also seen them try to build a new hive. It takes a while for all the bees to show up. Several hours at least. You would think they would be more picky in choosing there location but your porch looked good to them. They will not go away on their own if they are making a hive. Best idea would be to call the city as El Paso may be able to remove them for you free of charge. If they won't and your expected to deal with the problem yourself you may want to search online/yellow pages or whatever for local bee keepers who may want your bee's. Calling an exterminator is the easiest option. My friend charges $100 an hour as bee removal is not a fun job so it will cost you to have them removed. If you want to save $200 or more you can remove them yourself easily by just killing them. I have seen them try swarm inside someones car while they were parked and since we were goof offs at an internet cafe we all took turns spraying them with soapy water and running. No protection should be needed if there not killer bee's. Anyway I would try a garden sprayer filled with hot/warm water and dish soap, smoke bombs from a fireworks store, a high pressure washer, anything to disturb them before they build there hive and they quickly tire out and give up. The smoke bombs and pressure washer won't kill them necessarily, but leaving to build a new hive is stressful and they won't want to fight as they really need their strength. Tire them out and they will give up and die, or go away.

 

[Bushman5]

start making a smudge pot and get it smoking good. It will keep them "somewhat' relaxed. Wait until morning hen it is cool out, that is when they are most sluggish. Stoke the smudge pots until htere is tons of smoke drifting over them, then hit them with a pressurized blast of soapy water. use LOTS of dish soap, an entire bottle in a high pressure garden sprayer with hose wand. Use the "shower" setting and soak them good.

been there, not with beers but with wasps.

edit: oops, drivy By Trucker beat me too it!

 

[RickJ]

I will wait until the morning and see what the deal is, could be resting for the night, that is what I hope, if not will call an expert in to do the deed.

RickJ

 

[Mikel_24]

Get a flamethrower. It works each and every time.




Seriously. Wait to see what happens and seek appropiate help.
Mikel

 

[chickenrunner]

I've had some experience with wasps but not killer bees. What I did was dressing up in a Russian cbr protective suit, mask and all. Taped all possible openings on the suit with duct tape. I then sprayed the wasps with a CO2 fire extinguisher. Scooped them up with a showel and threw them on a fire.

 

[C_Claycomb]

While I sure wouldn't want them moving in next door, have none of you heard that bees are in short supply? Hives are dying off all by themselves and there are shortages all over the world. It seems like a shame to kill off a swarm to save on the inconvenience/cost of getting them moved.

 

[richard j]

we have some yellow jackets that have a nest in the ground along a wall. dad was spraying them with some wasp killer which wasnt doing a really good job. i told him to use some starting fluid which freezes them instantly. if you wait until dark you can spray the hive easily but use 2 cans at once. if you can get help, the more cans spraying the better.

 

[RickJ]

Yea if they are honey bees and a bee keeper will come out and get them, no problem I like honey and want to help keep the Bees around because they help out the eco system big time. My concern is 1. Two small children and 2. Are they Killer Bees or Honey Bees? I don't know, it is 0642 and they are starting to get very busy out side, I hope they all just fly off to a better Bee home somewhere.

RickJ

 

[lmalterna]

Provide them a better home? We raised honey bees and if someone reported a wild swarm, we would take a super out there(wooden bee box) and pour honey in/on it. We claimed a few swarms that way. Just a wooden box about 18" cubed with one entranceway hole. Set it maybe 24-36" off the ground- this being said as information rather than judgement. Some people develope extreme allergies to bee venom without even realizing it. Keep antihistimine melt tabs on hand and read up on anaphlactic(sp?) shock. You do live in a zone identified with Africanized bees.
2Door

 

[on_the_edge]

Yea if they are honey bees and a bee keeper will come out and get them, no problem I like honey and want to help keep the Bees around because they help out the eco system big time. My concern is 1. Two small children and 2. Are they Killer Bees or Honey Bees? I don't know, it is 0642 and they are starting to get very busy out side, I hope they all just fly off to a better Bee home somewhere.

RickJ

As I understand it, "africanized" bees ARE honey bees. In fact, I believe they produce much more honey than their more passive kin. That was part of the attraction with the strain (and attempt to crossbreed) to begin with.

 

[Lanza]

An experienced bee keeper can come out capture and isolate the queen in a small trap. He will then place the trap in a portable box with a small entrance and set the box near the location where the swarm was massing. Around dark, all the bees will have entered the box with the queen. The bee keeper can then pick up the box with the queen and swarm of bees and take them to a new hive. Good luck.

 

[Bushman5]

RICK-J, any updates?