Africanized Honey Bees Near San Antonio: Facts Without the Hype
Yes, Africanized honey bees are part of life in Texas. They were first found in the U.S. in south Texas in the fall of 1990, and AgriLife now assumes most wild colonies in the state carry at least some African genes. Because they look the same as other honey bees, the sensible rule is to treat every wild colony as possibly defensive: keep your distance, shut off yard machines nearby, and get help.
Found a colony in a meter box, wall or tree? Call or text (210) 281-1064 or book a visit.
How did "killer bees" spread across Texas? #
The Texas Apiary Inspection Service (TAIS) traces the first U.S. detection to south Texas in fall 1990. By August 2006 the bees had turned up in 163 of the state's 254 counties, and formal testing stopped after that.
Testing is rare now. AgriLife, TAIS and fire departments generally don't test colonies for Africanization, and the Texas honey bee ID lab closed in June 2011. That is why AgriLife works from an assumption: most feral colonies in Texas likely carry some African ancestry and may be aggressive.
Can you spot an Africanized bee by looking? #
No. The bee is a cross between an African subspecies (A. m. scutellata) and European honey bees. TAIS describes it as a slightly different honey bee: nearly identical in appearance, a touch smaller under a microscope, and carrying the same venom. AgriLife's beekeeper training says only lab work can settle which kind you have.
So the identification question that matters is "honey bee or something else?" Compare what you see with our guides to the European honey bee, bumble bee, yellowjacket and Mexican honey wasp.
The real difference is behavior #
Researchers at USDA-ARS say these bees can turn highly defensive and react much more quickly than European bees, and that they sting in larger numbers with less provocation. The same researchers stress that the bees don't fly out to attack at random. Trouble starts when the nest is disturbed.
TAIS lists the usual triggers:
- vibration from mowers, tractors, weed eaters and chainsaws
- people walking near the nest
- frantic animals
- loud noise
How far will defenders follow? The sources give different figures:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| USDA-ARS | Stay at least 100 ft from any Africanized hive |
| AgriLife beekeeper slides | 30 yd for European bees vs. 300 yd for Africanized |
| Insects in the City | Bees may chase "a half mile or more" |
Odd places they set up house #
Africanized colonies are less choosy than European ones. TAIS says they nest closer to the ground and like water meters. ARS adds that they settle into much smaller spaces, and AgriLife slides put the average cavity at 22 liters, compared with 40 liters for European bees.
AgriLife's list of nest sites reads like a walk around a typical Texas yard:
- water meter boxes and holes in walls
- pipes, eaves and the space under houses and sheds
- cement blocks and signs
- tree hollows and playground equipment
- old tires and chimneys
- even open, exposed spots
Swarm season and how often colonies split #
AgriLife gives Texas swarm season as March through July, possibly longer in parts of the state. Africanized colonies split far more often. ARS says they may swarm as often as every six weeks during the season, against about once a year for European bees. AgriLife slides say 4 to 12 times a year, against every 1 to 2 years.
A swarm can move in during the middle of the day. TAIS suggests walking the yard before you mow.
A two-minute yard check before mowing #
From March through July, it pays to look before you start any engine. A quick loop covers the spots AgriLife and TAIS name most often:
- Look up at the eaves and chimney, then check the water meter box and its lid for holes.
- Glance under the shed, the deck and any raised part of the house.
- Check stacked cement blocks, old tires, signs and the kids' play set.
- Look at hollow trees along the fence line.
If you see bees streaming in and out of one opening, stop there. Put the mower away, keep the dog inside, and call. ARS ties stinging incidents to disturbed nests, so a colony nobody has rattled is the one you want to hand over.
If bees come after you, remember ACE #
AgriLife and TAIS teach a simple plan:
- Alert others nearby.
- Cover your head and face.
- Exit into a car or a building.
Then call 911. Don't swat, don't jump into a pool or pond, don't crouch in bushes and don't "play dead." AgriLife also warns against spraying bees off a victim with a hose. Scrape out stingers once you're indoors.
Get medical care for a severe allergic reaction or for many stings. AgriLife's beekeeper module cites 5-10 stings per pound of body weight as a venom overdose level.
Pets, livestock and children #
Animals that are penned or tied near a colony cannot run away, which is why AgriLife's ENTO-080 bulletin says a colony near confined animals should be killed and removed right away. TAIS also suggests teaching kids to look for bees before they play.
Keeping a colony from moving in #
- Cover vents with 1/8-inch hardware cloth or screen.
- Caulk gaps 1/8 inch wide or wider.
- Tape over holes in water meter lids.
- Clear out debris piles, junk and old tires.
Mistakes that make it worse #
- Spraying, poking or knocking on a colony.
- Plugging the hole the bees are using. TAIS says they dig deeper or end up inside.
- Pouring soapy water on an established wall or tree colony. Insects in the City says it doesn't work there.
- Running the mower or string trimmer near a known nest.
Texas rules on removal #
If someone is paid to remove bees, they must be a registered beekeeper, who may not use pesticides, or a pest control professional licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Texas has no "bee removal license." The TAIS county list showed 28 Bexar County beekeepers on 2026-11-13, and TAIS does not endorse them.
AgriLife's advice for any colony or swarm is to contact a beekeeper or a pest control operator. Where it's practical, a beekeeper may be able to take the colony alive.
How Pest Trappers responds to a possible Africanized colony #
When you call, we'll ask where the bees are and who might wander close: children, pets, livestock or a neighbor with a mower. We'll suggest keeping everyone clear until a technician arrives.
On site, the technician inspects the colony and its surroundings and explains the choices, including whether a beekeeper removal is realistic and what comb removal involves. Every product goes on according to its label. Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) quotes after that inspection, so call for pricing. Local pages: Helotes, Bulverde, Bandera, Kerrville and Stone Oak.