Bestec Inspection Services

Here is information on Africanized honey bees provided by Bestec Exterminators we hope this will be helpful in the event that you my need it.

• Bees were brought to North America from Spain in the 1600’s
• Florida bee keeping developed around the late 1800’s the Native American tribes called bees “white man’s flies”
• In 1920 Florida held the world record for honey production
• Currently Florida has about 250,000 colonies maintained by registered beekeepers over the last few years.
• In 1957 26 African Queen Bees were released accidentally from San Paulo, Brazil.
• Africanized Bees spread through central and South Florida and the southern parts of the US during 1990 to 2009
• The State of Florida has hundreds of Bait traps to start the process of genetic testing. This test may lead to better control.
• Bees swarm either to enlarge the size of the colonies or to find a new location, in both case the bee swarmers are not aggressive. The passive swarm is due to facts that while on the move are no young to protect or honey to defend.
• The African bee’s aggressive behavior is a defensive response. You can expect three to four times more bees to come to the defense of a colony. Ten times more stings and will case victims for quarter of mile.
• The greatest risk group is small children, elderly handicapped, pets and live stock.
• Other groups include outdoor workers, military personal, sports enthusiasts, rescue personnel.
• The first death by African bees was in 2002 in Okeechobee County many more have been reported since. In metropolitan areas such as Miami Dade, Palm Beach, Brevard and Lee Counties these bees have been an even greater problem. Unfortunately there will be many reports of this nature in the future. We have no wide scale control method at this time.

If attacked:

• Don’t swat bees.
• Cover your nose and mouth.
• Dive in water.
• If stung scrape off the stinger with your finger nail or credit card.
• Seek medical attention.
• Call a pest company to remove the hive.

Being aware of your surroundings and taking simple precautions is the best defense against Africanized honey bees.

As in most areas where Coptoetermies Formosanous’ SWARM in the US the swarm was late. The colder the usual winter we have in South Florida last winter contributed to their tardiness.  Although they were a bit late in coming out we had big swarms this year that lasted late in the season. 

Formosans are like regular termites on steroids, eating wood nine times faster and developing colonies 10 times larger.  Because Formosans are able to build nests above as well as below ground and thrive in a moist climate, the pests have made themselves at home in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Southern California.

 The damage that they create in these areas per year is in the billons.  The worst part of having incurred damage from these massive wood destroyers is that it is not covered by homeowners insurance. Therefore picking the right termite company is paramount.  The biggest companies are not usually the best choice only because the sheer size of national termite companies prevents them from providing the extra service and specialized treatment specification necessary to get these infestations under control fast.  The first thing to look for is year of experience in the company and the technicians that will be working on your property. Next is what kind if any warrantee or even better guarantee does the company provides?  Is the insurance provider the company itself, as in being self insured as most large national termites companies are, or is their wood damage insurance provided by a mainstream insurance carrier such as Liberty Mutual or Firemen’s fund? Also are you being asked to sign an arbitration agreement thus confirming that you have given up your right to a jury trial?  This type of agreement is not recommended for termite contract, you want to maintain all your rights always. 

Each termite season I will enviably come across several families that have had major attacks from Formosan termites wither they were under coverage with a termite company or not have the home eaten was down to the point they can no longer live in the home because it no longer structurally sound.  The 2011 was no exception. The uninformed buyers of Formosan termite services and relentless attack each spring put all property owners at risk.  Get informed about the biology, behavior, swarming, contractual issues presented by pest companies for Formosan termites. 

Contact me if you have questions before you buy a Formosan termite prevent because Formosans are able to build nests above as well as below ground and thrive in a moist climate, the pests have made themselves at home in ive, presumptive or corrective services from any pest company anywhere.