Identification

• 1/2 - 5/8 inch long
• yellow and black; hairy

Nesting Habits

• social
• colony perennial, surviving the winter
• occasionally swarm

Diet

• pollen, nectar, honey

Significance

• nests and individual bees pose a health risk to humans, especially allergic individuals
• swarms can alarm people, but typically aren’t dangerous
• Africanized honey bees do exist in Washington, Iron and San Juan counties in Utah, and are more dangerous than European honey bees
• genetic tests or precise morphological measurements are needed to distinguish between Africanized and European honey bees

IPM Recommendations

• Monitor for bees season-long.
• Purchase and use a bee veil, suit and gloves.
• Minimize nesting habitat around property.
• Install tight-fitting screens in windows.
• Never plug entrance holes to nests!
• Bees are a valuable resource; consider contacting your local beekeepers' association for hive or swarm extraction.