![]() I once attended a beekeepers conference – the speaker said “Africanized Bees will chase you to water and wait for you to come up to breath.” They are very serious. And, they will chase you for a long distance. If you move away quickly, they will not chase you very far.ĭisturbance of an Africanized bee colony, results in thousands of defenders-pouring out of the hive to attack. Extreme Defensive ResponseĪn Italian (most common bee for beekeepers) colony that feels threatened sends out 20 or 30 defenders to chase off the predator (that’s you). This defensive behavior of the new hybrid earned them the nickname “killer bees”. The major difference between the African Races and the European Races is the level of defensiveness. The first confirmed swarm of was found in Texas in October of that year.īy subscribing, I consent to receiving emails. These Africanized bees arrived at the southern United States border in 1990. Northward migration continued at the rate of 200 – 300 miles per year. Over the next few years, they moved slowly north and expanded their territory throughout Latin America. In a few years, all of the wild European Honey Bee colonies were wiped out.Īnd then, they began to expand and migrate northward. They did quite well in the wilds of South America, so well in fact, that they took over the area. Accidentally or on purpose (depending on who you believe) some of them escaped confinement. In the mid 1950s, African Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera scutelatta Lepeletier) queens were imported to South America for interbreeding. This breeding project would have undesirable results. Unfortunately, the researchers got more than they bargained for. This new hybrid would become known as “Africanized Bees”. But, one that would keep the calmness and productivity of the European race already in use. One that was already used to those climate conditions. The goal was to create a hybrid that would have the vitality of the African bee. Honey production was poor in the hot, humid climate. They came from a cooler region, and did not thrive in South America. They are originally from temperate regions not tropical climates. The European bee (also called the Western Honey Bee) is the type of bee kept by most beekeepers. Warwick Kerr) hoped to interbreed African bees (suitable to a hot climate) with European bees. Staying Safe in Regions with Killer Beesīrazilian scientists and bee researchers (including Dr.Africanized Bees vs Honey Bees (the local kind). ![]()
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