Which part of Arizona does NOT have a killer bee, wasp or hornet problem?

[DetroitN8V]

All wild honey bees in AZ are Africanized Honey Bees aka "killer bees".

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

All wild honey bees in AZ are Africanized Honey Bees aka "killer bees".

I would imagine that a lot of the bees people run into around their yard and other urban and suburban areas are actually not wild bees but from hives kept by bee keepers for agriculture.

I don't know about the east valley but out here I see bee boxes everywhere and lots of bees buzzing around and just assume that is where the bees are coming from I have in my yard and I'm happy to have them.

I'm not an expert though.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

I would imagine that a lot of the bees people run into around their yard and other urban and suburban areas are actually not wild bees but from hives kept by bee keepers for agriculture.

I don't know about the east valley but out here I see bee boxes everywhere and lots of bees buzzing around and just assume that is where the bees are coming from I have in my yard and I'm happy to have them.

I'm not an expert though.

Really? I guess I never thought about that. I always figured the ones buzzing around anytime I step foot in my pool have a natural hive nearby and are not someone's "pets". Maybe I'm wrong but I really can't see any of my neighbors way up here in Scottsdaleburbia keeping bees. I wonder if my HOA would even allow it.

[LBTRS]

Lol, you're definitely a city dweller.

They are not "pet bees" and not being kept in your HOA. Professional bee keepers raise them at their bee farm and truck the boxes (hives) to people who pay them to use their bees to pollinate fruit, vegetables or other crops. If there is anything grown near Scottsdale then people are using bees provided by beekeepers.

They are all over out here in the west valley. You have not seen those stacks of white bee boxes anywhere in your travels?

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Lol, you're definitely a city dweller.

They are not "pet bees" and not being kept in your HOA. Professional bee keepers raise them at their bee farm and truck the boxes (hives) to people who pay them to use their bees to pollinate fruit, vegetables or other crops. If there is anything grown near Scottsdale then people are using bees provided by beekeepers.

They are all over out here in the west valley. You have not seen those stacks of white bee boxes anywhere in your travels?

I guess I never paid attention. I was thinking you meant that maybe a hobby beekeeper had a hive box or two in his backyard, which I guess is a slight possibility.

There's really no agriculture up here unless someone is farming rocks or cacti. The closest agriculture that I can think if would be the cotton fields on the reservation at Indian Bend and the 101 and that's a good 8-10 miles away from me. I think it's a safe bet that any bees around here are wild ones, unfortunately.

As much as I don't like them, I must admit that they don't seem to be the least bit aggressive. They seem to be unable to judge the surface of the water as a lot end up drowning. I do wish they'd get the picture and find a different, safer watering hole.

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I guess I never paid attention. I was thinking you meant that maybe a hobby beekeeper had a hive box or two in his backyard, which I guess is a slight possibility.

There's really no agriculture up here unless someone is farming rocks or cacti. The closest agriculture that I can think if would be the cotton fields on the reservation at Indian Bend and the 101 and that's a good 8-10 miles away from me. I think it's a safe bet that any bees around here are wild ones, unfortunately.

As much as I don't like them, I must admit that they don't seem to be the least bit aggressive. They seem to be unable to judge the surface of the water as a lot end up drowning. I do wish they'd get the picture and find a different, safer watering hole.

Bees are definitely used to grow cotton but that would be a long way for bees to be traveling especially in Arizona heat.

I don't think they are not judging the surface as they actually land on the water to get the drink and then fly away. Sometimes the little air pocket between them and the surface pops (normally due to water moving) and then they get water logged and can't lift themselves out of the water.

They seem to attempt it less when the water is moving in my pool. I can watch tons of them dipping water but once I turn on the filter it seems to cut down on a lot of them.

These are the bee boxes that can be seen wherever pollinated crops are grown.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Bees are definitely used to grow cotton but that would be a long way for bees to be traveling especially in Arizona heat.

I don't think they are not judging the surface as they actually land on the water to get the drink and then fly away. Sometimes the little air pocket between them and the surface pops (normally due to water moving) and then they get water logged and can't lift themselves out of the water.

They seem to attempt it less when the water is moving in my pool. I can watch tons of them dipping water but once I turn on the filter it seems to cut down on a lot of them.

Ahhh that makes sense about them getting waterlogged. I wonder if a chemical that my pool guy put in has changed the water's surface tension, catching them off guard. The ones that get their water from the patio or the tile, fly away just fine. Those that land on the water seem to never be able to get out.

I'll try running the filter next time I get in to see if that helps. I never see them around the pool unless it's being used. I think the water that gets splashed on the patio and on the waterline tile attracts them.