Bees and Wasps

Standard Operating Procedures
for Bees and Wasps
Mosquito Management Services

Health and Human Services
Eric Schreiber Ph. D., Lyman Roberts Ph. D., John

Eaton, Brian Burke and Chris Oliver
June 2009
Authorization
• Chapter 586 Florida Statutes, the “Honey Bee Law”, specifically
defines rules
r les regarding honey
hone bees with
ith numerous
n mero s references to feral
honey bees.
• Ch
Chapter
t 388 FlFlorida
id Statutes,
St t t th the “M
“Mosquito
it Law”,
L ” allows
ll for
f the
th
removal of arthropod pests of nuisance and public health concern.
• C
Countyt IPM P Procedural
d l Guidelines
G id li include
i l d methods
th d and d materials
t i l
for all pest management activities by county staff or contractors.
• S
Sarasota
t CCounty
t Ri
Risk
kM Managementt h has d
delegated
l t d tto MMS the
th ttask
k off
determining relative risk to people from stinging insects.
Standard Operating Procedure
• Standard operating procedures for stinging insects were
developed by Mosquito Management Services (MMS).
MMS is the designated
g business center for coordinatingg Sarasota
County’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
• MMS will respond to service requests for bee or wasp “pests”

associated
i t d with
ith county-owned
t d or maintained
i t i d property.
t
– Upon request, MMS may offer advice regarding stinging insect
problems on private property based on public risk and time
co st a ts.
constraints.
• Trained MMS staff will assess risks pertaining to the aggressiveness

of individual hives.
Service requests for stinging insects problems has increased

significantly in Sarasota County. MMS’s top priority remains
mosquito abatement and will respond to stinging insect inspections
as time permits.
Private Property Owners
• Upon request and time permitting, MMS will identify, evaluate and
advise
d i on managementt solutions
l ti tto reduce
d risk
i k tto people
l ffrom
stinging insects on private property.
• If highly defensive honey bees or yellow jackets are the problem

problem, the
owner is responsible for contacting a private pest control operator
(PCO). Sarasota County does not endorse any one PCO.
• If requested, MMS can provide a list of PCO’s willing to manage

bee or wasp problems.
Over the counter products may not be effective against large colonies.
It is strongly recommended that professionals be called.
Protocol for Stinging Insect Investigations on
C
County-owned
t dPProperty
t
Initiating a Service Request
Sarasota County Call Center (861-5000) service requests must
include all of the information listed below:
1) The exact location - an address plus the actual site, e.g. “5531
Pinkney Avenue, large nest high in tree at northwest corner of
main building” (or provide GPS coordinates)
2) A point of contact and telephone number
3) Time and date of problem
4) Other pertinent information e.g., anyone stung, property access

((locked ggate,, pets),
p ), known hazards
Risk Assessment
• To resolve stinging insect problems, the species must

first be identified.
• F
Following
ll i identification
id tifi ti off the
th target
t t pestt an
assessment will be made of the relative risk.
• On-site assessment of the problem by trained, certified

and properly equipped personnel is essential.
Proper Personal Protective Equipment
Do not go
near any
nest of
stinging
insects
without
proper
PPE.
PPE
Some Commonly Encountered Bees & Wasps
Honey Bee Eastern Yellow Jacket Sand Wasp
Paper wasp Solitary Wasp Halictid or Sweat Bee

Some Commonly Encountered Bee or
Wasp Structures
Carpenter bee nest Mud dauber Paper wasp nest
Mud dauber nest Organ pipe wasp nest Potter wasp nest
Behavior of the Target Pest
Mud daubers, sand wasps and carpenter bees may fly around
people
p p when:
(1) Wasps or bees may be provisioning their nests;
(2) People enter the territorial boundaries
guarded by male wasps or bees are seeking mates.
mates
Carpenter
Bee
These wasps and bees are not a threat to humans, and no

control action is necessary.
Bee Behavior
• Of potential concern is human contact with aggressive “feral”
(wild) honey bees.
• Depending upon the situation and time of year, bees may be non-
aggressive or aggressive.
• Reliable identification of bees must be performed in a laboratory.
• Defensive behavior of feral bees will be determined using one of

two methods:
– The smoke method
– The leather patch method
• Trained/licensed MMS personnel will evaluate the defensive

b h i off th
behavior the b
bees.
Smoke Test
Patch Test
Leather patch is
p
exposed to bees
Honey b
H bee stingers
i
and poison glands
Control of Paper Wasps
• Paper wasps will sting and are a nuisance easily controlled by removal of
the paper combs. The use of chemicals is unnecessary if proper personal
protective equipment and timing are used.
used
• Destruction of wasp nests by MMS will be considered based on proximity

to humans
humans. Nests at bus stop stations
stations, picnic tables & school grounds are
examples of sites where people may be stung.
• IIn some cases th

the use off an aerosoll spray is
i warranted
t d ffor paper wasps b
butt
not honey bees. Some of the aerosol sprays contain:
1. Pressurized boric acid (35.5%);
2 Cyclohexene
2. C l h (10%)
(10%);
3. Pyrethrin (12% Allethrin). Ck that these are on the IPM approved list.
The above products are currently registered in the state of Florida for yellow jackets
and wasps and are on the Sarasota County IPM approved pesticide listing
Yellow Jacket Control: Leave to MMS or Contractor
• Y
Yellow
ll Jackets
J k t can form
f large
l colonies
l i
within structures or in the soil. They
defend their nests aggressively and can
sting
ti repeatedly.
t dl
• They are easily aroused to attack even

when foraging in picnic areas and
trash receptacles.
• MMS does not recommend use of

aerosol sprays by untrained personnel to
control colonies of yellow jackets.
Risk of multiple stings to people could
be high. Control efforts will not work
unless most of the wasps and queen(s)
are exposed to the spray.
Control of Yellow Jackets by MMS Personnel
• The size and location of the colony is important in choosing control
methods. A repellent can work for small colonies with a single queen
and less than 100 workers; the colony will evacuate the immediate
area and reestablish elsewhere.
• Large colonies require greater time and effort for elimination.

elimination
– Example: underground nests along county easements. Excavation of the
nest is often necessary to eliminate the colony. The least toxic materials,
e.g. soapy water or vegetable oil, will be used.
• Colonies that require immediate attention (in parks, nature trails,

adjacent to school grounds, etc.) are treated with the least toxic
practical means: soapy water or in some instances by a synthetic
pyrethroid. One or more follow-up visits are usually needed.
Excavation of a Large Yellow Jacket Colony
Swarms of Feral Bees
• If left alone for 24-72 hrs, bees will typically leave the area
and are not a risk for people/pets.
people/pets
• If immediate management is required, MMS will collect

and freeze or treat the swarm with soapy water.
Aggressive Feral Bee
Hives
i
• There are two options:
p
1) Elimination by chemical means
2) Sealing bees inside their hive.
• The chemical control method of choice is to apply soapy water or

insecticidal dust directly into the open hive. (e.g. in the utility box
pictured) In most instances one application is sufficient.
• Sealing the bees in their hive is the method of choice for hives with
entrances/exits in tree holes and structures.
• Re-application of the treatment is usually required to eliminate

foragers returning to the hive after treatment.
For optimal results hives should be treated at night or very early morning. Follow up
within several hours may be necessary to treat for stragglers.
Strategies for Bees in
El t i l Equipment
Electrical E i t
• Hives in electrical equipment are usually
small but can pose a significant risk to residents
and county staff.
• Examples
E l include
i l d junction
j ti boxes
b or telecommunication
t l i ti bboxes, power
equipment, pad-mounted air conditioning and electrical transformers.
Management is by:
1) Vacuuming up a swarm or collecting the queen and workers on
the hive proper, then freezing it or dousing thoroughly with soapy water
away from the electrical outlet;
2)) Use of an insecticidal treatment such as an impregnated
p g tag.
g
When such hives are discovered,, uncertified staff or

residents should call 861-5000 for assistance.
Aggressive Feral Hive in a County
Structure:
Sometimes the methods, equipment and necessary
certification
ifi i are outsideid the
h scope off county staff
ff
and will be handled by private pest control operators.
Management Methods For Swarms of Honey
B
Bees Near
N P
People
l
• Waitingg mayy be an option.
p Swarms of honey
y bees are not defensive
unless provoked and will usually move on to establish a hive within 3
days or less.
• Collect the swarm and freeze it.

it
• Collect the swarm, place it in a trash can and spray the bees
thoroughly with soapy water.
Note: MMS does not recommend the use of aerosol sprays.

Aerosols do not provide rapid knockdown of bees and are not on the IPM
approved pesticide list for swarm management.
Personnel and the public may be at risk of stings during application.
Application of Smoke and Soapy Water
Summary- Management for Feral Bee Hives:
Summary
• Elimination by soapy water application
• For hives in structures or tree holes,

holes seal the
entrances and spray with soapy water or apply
insecticidal dust
• Follow-up visits to the site are usually required.

Remember to:
• C
Call
ll 861-5000
861 5000 to
t initiate
i iti t a service
i requestt ffor a b
bee or
wasp problem
• Provide detailed information on the location of the

problem
• Leave management to certified, trained and properly

equipped personnel to limit risk

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Standard Operating Procedures

for Bees and Wasps

Mosquito Management Services

Eric Schreiber Ph. D., Lyman Roberts Ph. D., John

• MMS will respond to service requests for bee or wasp “pests”

• Trained MMS staff will assess risks pertaining to the aggressiveness

Service requests for stinging insects problems has increased

• If highly defensive honey bees or yellow jackets are the problem

• If requested, MMS can provide a list of PCO’s willing to manage

2) A point of contact and telephone number

3) Time and date of problem

4) Other pertinent information e.g., anyone stung, property access

• To resolve stinging insect problems, the species must

• On-site assessment of the problem by trained, certified

Paper wasp Solitary Wasp Halictid or Sweat Bee

These wasps and bees are not a threat to humans, and no

• Reliable identification of bees must be performed in a laboratory.

• Defensive behavior of feral bees will be determined using one of

• Trained/licensed MMS personnel will evaluate the defensive

• Destruction of wasp nests by MMS will be considered based on proximity

• IIn some cases th

• They are easily aroused to attack even

• MMS does not recommend use of

• Large colonies require greater time and effort for elimination.

• Colonies that require immediate attention (in parks, nature trails,

• If immediate management is required, MMS will collect

• The chemical control method of choice is to apply soapy water or

• Re-application of the treatment is usually required to eliminate

When such hives are discovered,, uncertified staff or

• Collect the swarm and freeze it.

Note: MMS does not recommend the use of aerosol sprays.

• Elimination by soapy water application

• For hives in structures or tree holes,

• Follow-up visits to the site are usually required.

• Provide detailed information on the location of the

• Leave management to certified, trained and properly

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