You may notice more bee hives in your community as the temperatures warm up. It's bee season and experts say they're expecting an increase in activity. Africanized killer bees are those that pose the biggest threat. Experts estimate that roughly 65-percent of bees in the Valley are killer bees.
Killer bees tend to swarm and, if attacked, you'll likely be stung multiple times. If a colony believes its queen is threatened, it will attack aggressively. Swarms have been spotted in the Valley as large as pickup trucks. If you are outside, remember to wear white or light colored clothing. Also, wear a hat if you have dark hair. Bees are extremely attracted to dark colors, like black. If you notice multiple bees buzzing around a light or lamp on your property, it's likely you have a hive nearby and you should call an expert to remove the hive.
Regularly inspect your home and yard for signs of bees. Swarms look for cavities in trees, eaves and walls as potential nesting sites. These openings should be filled or covered with a solid cover or fine mesh screening. Bees are also attracted to debris such as tires, wood piles or overturned flower pots. When removing any debris, always look before you place your hand under or into something. Use the same caution when working around air conditioners, coolers, electrical boxes or water meters.
Tips to avoid being attacked by bees:
- Cover your face
- Run immediately into a building or vehicle
- Do not swat at the bees
- Do not jump into a pool (some varieties of bees will wait for you to come up for air)
- Call 9-1-1 if someone is being attacked
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