Suspected 'killer' bees invade oak tree

SUMMERFIELD, Fla., March 1 (UPI) -- A Florida bee removal expert said a swarm of about 20,000 bees in a couple's oak tree are likely Africanized bees, commonly called killer bees.

Eric and Deborah Uneberg said they first noticed a large beehive in their Summerfield back yard Jan. 17 and the swarm moved to a live oak tree in their front yard Monday afternoon after chasing a pizza delivery driver, the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner reported Tuesday.

Richard Martyniak, an entomologist with All Florida Bee Removal, said the bees are likely Africanized honeybees, which he said have been spreading in the area faster than the native honeybees, and the original large hive may have held up to 60,000 of the insects.

Martyniak said he has recently been called to remove Africanized bees from several locations in the area, the most recent being a hive off U.S. 301 Monday morning.