Myths And Truths About Africanized Bees

Despite what most people believe, Africanized bees truly can and do co-exist in some manner with people, and have for quite some time. When there is trouble from these creatures, it usually comes about only when a colony is disturbed, either by some animal, which includes people, or some unexpected noise that sounds threatening to the hive. It should go without saying that extreme caution is needed when any beehives appear in close proximity to houses or business properties. As opposed to trying to get rid of or exterminate them yourself, it is strongly advised that you contact a specially trained (and properly clothed) honeybee removal expert.

Africanized honeybees (often referred to as "killer bees" due to movies and press) are the consequence of a well-meaning experiment gone awry. In 1956 a geneticist in Brazil, intending to develop a super-bee species that was better suited to thrive in the tropics of Latin America, cross-bred African and European (what we call honeybees in the U.S.) strains. The result was a species that could indeed thrive in a tropical climate, but that unfortunately was incredibly aggressive when defending its hive. These bees have been migrating north at a rate of 100-300 miles per year, and in the U.S., have now made it into some southern states and California, where folks have learned how to live side by side with them. In fact, it has been estimated that up to 90% of all bees in Los Angeles are now African bees.

Africanized honeybees look like those we are most accustomed to, except they are a bit smaller sized. Their sting is chemically identical to that of their European counterpart, and contrary to the folklore, is no more venomous that that of the common bee. Their lives are actually very much like honeybees in that they construct huge colonies of up to 40,000 residents, and they usually only swarm when their hive has become too big to sustain. Like their European cousins, they are successful pollinators.

The problem lies in the increased aggression level; these bees will attack with much less provocation, in greater numbers, and for a longer duration than their European/American cousins. They are in fact 10 times more prone to attack than the bees we are familiar with, will attack and chase intruders much further from the hive, and the defender bees seem to be especially agitated by the vibrations of nearby motors such as those in common lawn mowers. An individual African bee just out collecting pollen, however, is no more likely to sting than a normal bee, and deaths from attacks are rare; in fact there are fewer deaths annually from African bee stings than from lightning strikes.

African bees are considered less dangerous than yellow jackets, who can sting repeatedly, and who are very aggressive as well. These wasps do differ somewhat in appearance to honeybees, however the average person typically can't tell the difference. These aggressive creatures might build their hives in trees and shrubs, but are more likely to nest underground. They are commonly found in deep mulch, or in holes or burrows in the earth that have been vacated by other critters. Unlike bees, they are not pollinators, but are carnivores which is why they are always nearby when you want to bar-b-que, then dine outdoors. Since they're so aggressive and can sting repeatedly, it is always preferable to call a yellow jacket removal expert when you encounter a nest of these creatures.

Since African bees flourish in the tropics and warmer climes, it is still uncertain how far north they are likely to migrate. Since they're useful in pollinating crops while collecting nectar to make into honey to feed their young, researchers are studying ways to make the best use of them and to make them less aggressive as well. Since the average person is unable to distinguish an Africanized honeybee from the more well known European species, it is always recommended that you call in an expert when you feel threatened by the presence of any stinging invaders.