Africanized honey bee
Also known as the "killer bee" in the mainland U.S., the Africanized honey bee
(AHB), Apis mellifera scutellata, looks just like the domestic honey bee. Originally
from Africa, the AHB was introduced into Brazil, South America in 1956. It escaped the
following year and has been migrating north since then. In 1990, the AHB entered Texas
and today it is well-established in the southern portions of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico
and California, where it entered in 1994. Today, it occupies most of southern California.
Unlike the domesticated European honey bee, the AHB is a "wild" bee that is not
comfortable around people or animals, and will readily defend its hive at greater
distances from the disturbance, become more upset with less reason, and sting in much
greater numbers. Some individuals have been stung hundreds of times in only a few
moments. In isolated instances, people and animals have been stung to death, primarily
by not being able to get away from the bees quickly enough.
The AHB is primarily a public safety threat, especially in Hawaii where our yearround
mild climate is sure to favor the development of many hives throughout our
lowlands where our residential communities and tourist areas are found. If it were to
become established and be difficult to control, it could seriously impact Hawaii's
communities, businesses, and tourism. AHB could also impact commercial beekeepers,
resulting in reduced yields to melon and other crops that rely on pollination. It could also
impact honey and queen bee production in the State by infiltrating domestic honey bee
colonies.
For more information, see:
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