Africanized bee

Africanized bee

Africanized honey bee

The Africanized bee, also known as the Africanized honey bee or killer bee, is a hybrid of the Western honey bee species Apis mellifera. This hybrid originated from the crossbreeding of the East African lowland honey bee Apis mellifera scutellata with various European honey bee subspecies such as Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis mellifera iberiensis.

History

The Africanized bee was first introduced to the Americas in 1956 when 26 Tanzanian queen bees were brought to Brazil by biologist Warwick E. Kerr. The goal was to increase honey production by crossbreeding with local bees. However, in 1957, some of these bees escaped quarantine and began to spread throughout South and Central America, eventually reaching the southern United States.

Characteristics

Africanized bees are known for their aggressive behavior compared to other honey bee subspecies. They are more likely to defend their hive and do so with greater numbers. This defensive behavior has earned them the nickname "killer bees." Despite this, they are similar in appearance to other honey bees and can only be distinguished through genetic analysis.

Behavior

Africanized bees exhibit a high tendency to swarm and abscond, which means they frequently leave their hives to establish new colonies. This behavior contributes to their rapid spread across regions. They are also more likely to pursue perceived threats over longer distances than other honey bee subspecies.

Impact

The spread of Africanized bees has had significant ecological and economic impacts. They compete with native pollinators and can disrupt local ecosystems. In agriculture, they pose challenges to beekeepers due to their aggressive nature, although they are still valuable pollinators.

Management

Efforts to manage Africanized bees include breeding programs to reduce their aggressiveness and public education to minimize human-bee conflicts. Beekeepers are advised to use protective gear and maintain calm when working with these bees.

Related pages

• Honey bee
• Pollination
• Beekeeping
• Invasive species

Gallery

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  Animation of Africanized bees

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  Africanized honey bee hive

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  Pollination by honey bees

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  Honey bee taking nectar

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  Puerto Rican Africanized bee

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  Africanized bee

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  Africanized bee behavior

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  Africanized bee hive

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  Pollination by Africanized bee

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  Africanized bee taking nectar

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  Puerto Rican Africanized bee