Bee Removal
Specialists Willie The Bee Man, Inc. William Alan Sklaroff, Ed.S. 2380 NE 195 Street Miami, Florida
33180
Bureau of
Plant and Apiary Inspection Apiary Inspection Section
Mr. Sklaroff, The recommendation
from my office is that any feral honey bee colonies or swarms not associated with a Registered Florida Beekeeper participating
in Best Management Practices be considered for eradication. The growing presence of African Bees in Florida has resulted in
the death of a 900 pound horse, 13 dogs, goats, sheep and dozens of non-fatal stinging events that required emergency medical
attention. Unfortunately we had the first human fatality from African Bees during a mass stinging event in April of this year.
We of course need the gentle managed honey bees that are so important to Florida Agriculture and the environment but this
is a separate issue from African Bees and the potential Public Safety risk they pose.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
FOR PRODUCING HONEY BEE QUEENS IN FLORIDA
1. This is a voluntary
program designed to minimize the threat of Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) in Florida and to dilute any feral AHB populations
that may become established in Florida as our gentle managed colonies are our best line of defense against AHB. 2. Beekeepers
participating in this program must sign a compliance agreement with the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 3. Beekeepers will maintain a valid registration with the Florida
Department of Agriculture/Division of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI), and be current with any and all special inspection fee Florida beekeepers should be discouraged from collecting swarms that cannot be immediately re- queened from EHB queen
producers.
Thank you. Jerry G. W. Hayes, Jr. Assistant
Chief Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection Apiary Inspection Section
Division of Plant Industry P O Bx 147100 Gainesville FL 32614-7100 (352) 372-3505 ext 128
(352) 334-0715 FAX
