Insect or Spider (unknown species) (various) on Apr 6, 2016
Originally reported as Africanized Honey Bee (Apis mellifera scutellata)
Submitter does not have a specimen
Description of specimen
This is purely a precautionary report. I know that dogs have been killed in the Portland area by agressive swarming of bees and I encouraged my son to contact the county extension agent. I do not know if he has done so.
Commentary
Expert Reviewer
Wyatt Williams, Ph.D.
Wyatt Williams, Ph.D.
Invasive Species Specialist
Oregon Department of Forestry
Private Forests Division
2600 State St. Bldg. D
Salem, OR 97310-0340
Office: 503-945-7472
wyatt.williams@oregon.gov
Several species in the "bee, wasp and ant" family nest in the ground. Honey bees - whether they are European or Africanized - are not one of the species that does so. Instead they nest aboveground in hollows of trees, buildings, abandoned vehicles, etc. Also, true honeybees are ramping up activity this time of year but will not begin to truely "swarm" - the active relocation of part or all of a colony - until June-August in our part of the country.
Oregon is on the front lines for Africanized honeybees, so thanks for keeping a sharp eye. However, there have never been any confirmed reports of this species establishing in Oregon, according to the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture.
If you have a European honeybee hive on your property, there are folks who will come out and remove the hive for you. For more info, please visit:
https://orsba.org/swarm-list/
Thank you.
Regards,
Wyatt Williams
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Wyatt Williams
April 19, 2016, 2:36 a.m.