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How to Submit Honey Bee Samples for Identification IN THIS F@STSHEET HOW TO SEND IN A SAMPLE WHERE TO MAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION

With the arrival of Africanized honey bees in Texas, it is sometimes important to know if a bee colony contains Africanized members. Although the Texas Cooperative Extension does not make site visits for bee control purposes, we can refer you to competent persons (such as beekeepers, pest control operators or other emergency personnel) for control. In addition, the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University will examine bee samples to determine the probability of Africanization. Currently there is no charge for this service, and the lab will accept bee samples from any location in Texas. To ensure accurate identification, samples must include proper collection information and adequate numbers of bees must be submitted.

Because Africanized honey bees are nearly identical in appearance to domesticated (European) honey bees, identification requires sophisticated equipment and a computer. At least 10 to 20 bees from the colony must be submitted to accurately test whether the colony is Africanized. Individual bees cannot be reliably identified.

HOW TO SEND IN A SAMPLE

• Send bees in a leak-proof glass (e.g., mason jar) or plastic jar capable of holding about ½ pint of bees. This volume should be sufficient to accurately identify the bees. Enough alcohol (ethyl or rubbing) should be included in the jar to at least cover the bees.
  

• Do NOT freeze the sample or allow it to dry out. Either treatment will cause the specimens to become brittle and difficult to dissect.  Fifty or more bees may be required for identification in such cases.

• To ensure that specimens arrive safely, the jar should be placed in a sturdy box approximately an inch larger than the jar. The jar should have some sort of padding (e.g., newspaper, Styrofoam peanuts) between it and the jar. For added safety, this box can be placed in a second, slightly larger, padded box.

• The entire collection form (see below) should be completed. This information is critical, particularly if the specimens are determined to be Africanized. For samples collected outside of city limits, please indicate the distance and direction to the nearest city or town.

• If the bees in question have stung someone, please include the persons' names, a brief description of how the stinging incident occurred, and what medical care was required (e.g., hospital, etc.). Bee samples involved in stinging incidents will be assigned a higher priority in the identification process.

• Use pencil, not pen, when filling out the collection data form. Labels written in ink may become illegible should the jar leak during transport.
  
  CLICK HERE FOR HONEY BEE IDENTIFICATION FORM

WHERE TO MAIL
Specimens should be mailed to the: Texas Honey Bee I.D. Lab, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475. If shipping by UPS, Federal Express, or other private carrier, add: Riverside Campus, Building 4431-Room 313.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Additional questions on submitting specimens can be directed to the lab by phone (979-847-8771) or via E-mail mailto:(l-bradley2@tamu.edu . For further information about honey bee swarms and controlling bees, see Texas Cooperative Extension publication L-1791, Honey Bees in and Around Homes. General information about Africanized Honey Bees, including a current distribution map, is available at http://agnews.tamu.edu/bees/.

Authors:
Michael Merchant, Ph.D., Urban Entomologist, Texas Cooperative Extension and Lisa Bradley, Texas Honey Bee Identification Laboratory, Texas A&M University.

Publication information:
This publication is part of the House & Landscape Pest Series produced by the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475. Series Editor: M. Merchant. For more information about arthropods, check out the Texas A&M Entomology Website at http://insects.tamu.edu/
Last Revised: 07/03/2003