Gary R. Ross & H. Leroy Brooks, Africanized honey bees, Kansas State University, August 1991

Brooks, H. Leroy

Ross, Gary R.

K-State Research Exchange

AFRICANIZEDHoney Beesrequires trained personnel with computer-assisted measure-ments of chemical and physical characteristics.  The impor-tant difference between the European and Africanizedhoney bee is in its behavior.What are some behavioraldifferences in the Africanized honey bee?The Africanized honey bee quickly defends its hive andwill pursue intruders longer distances than the Europeanhoney bee.The sting of one Africanized honey bee is no more potentthan the sting of a single European honey bee.  Moststinging incidents have involved animals, but on rareoccasions humans have been attacked.  Stinging attacksoccur only when the Africanized honey bee nest, or territory,is threatened by the noise or vibration of an intruder such astractors or other vehicles.Honey bees increase the number of colonies and theprobability of survival by swarming.  Africanized honeybees swarm more often than European honey bees resultingin the Africanized honey bee’s gaining a population advan-tage over the European honey bee.  Occasional swarms on-board ships from South and Central America are a concern,but not a major threat to the American public or the U.S.beekeeping industry.Africanized honey bees are much less selective in nestingsites than are the European honey bees.  They can be foundin underground cavities that afford little space for comb-building or protection from the climate, compared to theEuropean honey bee nests in a hollow tree or wall void withat least 40 liters of space that is above ground, clean and dry.Will the Africanized honeybee be a problem in Kansas?Research indicates that the northern expansion limit of theAfricanized honey bee will extend to central Texas.  The factthat this “tropical bee” does not “cluster” during coldweather would probably negate any chances of the African-ized honey bee surviving Kansas winters, but migratorybeekeeping operations in the spring and summer would bea major concern.A background of honeybees in the United States:The honey bee is not native to the United States.  “Nativeor domestic” honey bees, were introduced by Europeansettlers in the 1600s.  Pioneers moving westward broughtthese European honey bees to Kansas during the early 1800s.Today this insect is known for its honey production and itspollination services. Recent studies show that honey bees pollinate cropsvalued at approximately $10 billion annually.  For eachdollar’s worth of honey sold by the U.S. beekeeper, anestimated $143 worth of pollination was provided by thesesame bees.Honey bee colonies in Kansas number approximately50,000 with 2.8 million pounds annual honey productionvalued at $1.9 million. For centuries, the European honey bee has been selectedby beekeepers for its desirable traits: gentleness, honeyproduction, tendency not to swarm, winter hardiness, colorand others.What is the Africanized honey bee?Queens of the Africanized honey bees were brought toBrazil from Africa in 1957 for breeding studies.  These queenbees escaped and their hybrid crosses evolved throughnatural selection in an extremely hostile environment.  Bothweather and predators, including man, have contributed tothe genetic selection of a honey bee quite different from thehoney bee of the U.S. beekeeper.  Being a “wild” honey bee,its characteristics are those that have enhanced its chancesfor survival.  This evolutionary process has resulted inseveral undesirable behavior traits. The Africanized honey bee had continued expansionnorthward to the southern tip of Texas by October 1990.Although Africanized honey bees defend their coloniesfaster and in greater numbers, there is no justification for thename “Killer Bees.”What do Africanized honey bees look like?Africanized honey bees are very similar to our commonhoney bee but are slightly smaller.  Positive identificationCooperative Extension Service, Kansas State UniversityOutdated Publication, for historical use. CAUTION: Recommendations in this publication may be obsolete.Cooperative Extension Service, Manhattan, KansasL-843 August 1991Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County ExtensionCouncils, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Walter R. Woods, Director. All educational programs and materials availablewithout discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap.File Code: Entomology-1 CB 8-91-5MGary R. RossChief Apiary InspectorState Board of AgricultureH. Leroy BrooksExtension Specialist, InsectsKansas State UniversityWhat is being done aboutthe Africanized honey bee?In the past 15 years South and Central America andMexico have yielded a large volume of information on thebehavior and biology of the Africanized honey bee.  Muchhas been learned about the bee but more research is needed.Even though articles have been published about deathsassociated with the Africanized honey bee, actual deathshave been few.  Auto accidents pose a much greater riskstatistically.  The public should stay informed but notunduly alarmed.Who to contact?For additional information or educational programscontact your local county Extension agent, Kansas HoneyProducers Association or regional beekeeping organizations,or the Kansas State Board of Agriculture at 901 S. KansasAve., Topeka, Kan. 66612-1280; telephone (913) 296-3016.MexicoOutdated Publication, for historical use. CAUTION: Recommendations in this publication may be obsolete.

L843

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