MYTH or FACT? Africanized bees are more dangerous when they are swarming, that is, when they appear as a large cluster of insects searching for a new home. MYTH FACT MYTH or FACT? Africanized bees will live any place a domestic bee will live, including a manmade hive. MYTH FACT Your score: At Home Africanized bees will nest almost anywhere around your home, even inside a meter box or in a rain spout. It's important to be on the lookout for bees around your home and yard, as well as in barns and pens where animals are confined. Potential Bee Nesting Sites Near Your Home holes or cracks in building walls holes in trees underneath mobile homes culverts or drainage pipes flower pots old tires bird houses barns or sheds woodpiles wooden spools often used as playground equipment Outdoor Recreation and Bees Outdoor activities such as hunting, camping hiking and even picnicking can put you at greater risk of unknowingly disturbing a hive of Africanized honey bees. When participating in outdoor recreational activities, watch for numbers of bees flying around the vicinity and listen for buzzing sounds. If you encounter either, leave the area immediately. When picking out a picnic site or setting up camp, first scout the area for bees. Never let young children play in an area you have not checked for bees. Never climb into a hunting blind without checking for bees and beehives first. Watch for bees flying in or out of the blind. When hiking, listen and watch for bees. Never step on or turn over logs or rocks where bees may be nesting. When activities take you into outdoor areas where bees may be nesting, have an escape plan. Potential Bee Nesting Sites in Recreational Areas tree hollows piles of rocks rotted or hollow logs underneath picnic tables park shelters park trash cans stacks of firewood hunting blinds wood duck boxes bird houses oilfield equipment wind mills . Identification Habitat Economics Stings Education What to do Where they are Ask a Bee Question FAQ Home AgNews For more information about Africanized honey bees, contact Dr. John Jackman at j-jackman@tamu.edu.