European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on May 30, 2009
Originally reported as Africanized Honey Bee (Apis mellifera scutellata)
Submitter does not have a specimen
Description of specimen
The swarm was massive, at least 10 feet tall, 6 feet wide, very dense - thousands of bees swarming. Some stragglers around the swarm, not able to get a closer look, we were afraid of a possible attack.
Some European Honey bees are very volatile and can be aggressive especially in the spring when a hive is about to divide. It is unlikely that what was seen was an Africanized Swarm. If the swarm persists and poses a danger to the public a professional could be contacted to remove the colony. A list of professionals that collect swarms can be found at: http://www.orsba.org/htdocs/swarm_call_list.php.
To confirm that the the bees are not africanized ask the swarm collector to gather about 50 dead bees, preserve them in alcohol and send them to the OSU Insect ID Clinic http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/bpp/insect_clinic/index.htm. I can have them analyzed at Bee Lab in Gainesville, FL to determine if they are Africanized.
Lisa DeBruyckere
June 16, 2009, 5:57 a.m.