If you don't notice honey bees now, you are not likely to see AHBs. The most common sighting is to see a swarm of bees as they look for a new home, either flying about or resting on a tree branch or railing. Africanized honey bees are less discriminating than other honey bees when it comes to nesting sites. They will build nests in the ground, in cavities in trees or buildings, under bridges, and in utility boxes if they can find a hole through which to enter. To keep swarms from taking up residence in a building or utility box, seal cracks and holes or cover them with small gauge wire mesh.
Honey bees are a vital link in U.S. agriculture.
Many of our crops originated in the Old World and evolved with honey bees as their natural pollinators, so we need to provide them to pollinate these fruits and vegetables now. Domestic honey bees that interbreed with AHBs may become harder to manage as pollinators and may be less effective for producing honey. Both USDA and university scientists are studying biology, behavior, and management of the AHBs. Understanding the bee will be important in managing it. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag.