Africanized Honey BeesApis mellifera scutellata

Ellis, Ellis, and Hodges. October 2006.NPDN Publication No. 0002

Africanized Honey Bees

• Introduction

• Description

• Life Cycle

• Hosts

• Risks

• ControlPhoto: Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service

http://www.insectimages.org/

Introduction• Honey bees provide:

– Crop pollination - $20 Billion(1/3 world’s food supply depends on honey bee pollination)

– Hive Products• Bees• Honey• Wax • Propolis• Pollen

Photo:David Cappaert

http://www.insectimages.org/

• Honey Bee Subspecies

(or races of Apis mellifera)– European honey bee

races are used traditionally by beekeepers in the US and throughout the world

– African honey bee races are used primarily in Africa

Introduction

Special thanks to Johomaps.com Special thanks to Johomaps.com http://www.johomaps.com/as/maps.htmlhttp://www.johomaps.com/as/maps.html

• In 1956, one African honey bee race, Apis mellifera scutellata, was introduced accidentally to Brazil in an effort to increase honey production in Brazil.

• The African bee hybridized with European bee races already present in Brazil, hence the term African-‘ized’ honey bees.

Introduction

Special thanks to Johomaps.com Special thanks to Johomaps.com http://www.johomaps.com/as/maps.htmlhttp://www.johomaps.com/as/maps.html

Introduction• AHB spread

to the US through South and Central America by 1990

• As of 2006, AHB has become established in LA, AR, AL,TX, CA, NM, AZ, NV, OK, and FL

Map by Kim Kaplan, U.S. Department of Agriculture http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059&page=6

Description• 3 main body parts

– Head– Thorax

• 2 pairs of wings• 3 pairs of legs

– Abdomen• Brownish-orange

with black stripes

Photos: David Cappaert http://www.insectimages.org/

• Commonly confused with wasps, flies, or other bees that have similar body shape and coloration

Description

Photo: Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service http://www.insectimages.org/

Southern Yellowjacket

Sweat Bee

Bombyliid FlyPhoto: David Cappaert http://www.insectimages.org/

Photo: Susan Ellis, www.insectimages.org

• Honey bees have a caste system– Worker (10-15 mm)

• Female, performs everyday tasks of the

colony

– Queen (18-20 mm)• Female, specialized for egg production

– Drone (15-17 mm)• Male, sole purpose to mate with queen

Description

Photo: Carl Dennis, Auburn Universityhttp://www.insectimages.org

Photo: David Cappaert http://www.insectimages.org/

DescriptionAfricanized Honey Bee Identification•African bees cannot be distinguished from European bees by sight•Must use:

-Morphometric Analysis

(measurements of various body parts)

-Genetic AnalysisPhoto: Walker, K. (2006) Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) Pest and Diseases Image Library. Updated on 2/02/2006 1:51:37 PM. Available online: http://www.padil.gov.au

• Africanized Honey Bee Behavior– Highly defensive around

their nesting site– Swarm in greater

frequency than European bees

• 10+ times per year– Tendency to abscond or

completely abandon the nest when faced with a threat

Description

Photo: G. Keith Douce, The University of Georgia http://www.insectimages.org

Life Cycle• Four Stages:

Egg Larva Pupa Adult

• Developmental Time (days from egg to adult):

Queen CellPhoto: Carl Dennis, Auburn Universityhttp://www.insectimages.org

European bees

African bees

Queen 16 14

Worker 21 19-20

Drone 24 24

Hosts• Honey bees are generalists and forage on

many flowering plants, although some plants are more attractive than others.

Photo: Russ Ottens, The University of Georgiahttp://www.insectimages.org/

Photo: John A. Weidhass, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityhttp://www.insectimages.org/

Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Servicehttp://www.insectimages.org/

BlueberryMillet

Wild Flower

• Africanized Honey Bee Nesting Habits

– They will nest in smaller spaces than European

honey bees

– Have been found in

• Water meter boxes, Cement blocks, Old tires, House eaves, Abandoned vehicles, Trees, Garages, Outbuildings, Sheds, Walls, Chimneys, Playground equipment, Empty containers, Places and objects with holes, Fences, Lumber piles, Manholes, Water meters, Utility infrastructures, Almost Any Abandoned Structure

Hosts

Photos: Timothy Haley, Photos: Timothy Haley, USDA Forest Service USDA Forest Service http://www.insectimages.orhttp://www.insectimages.orgg

Risks• Africanized Honey Bee/Human Conflicts Occur

– Due to enhanced defensive behavior– Due to selection of nesting sites– Due to agitation by power equipment

• Farmers, children, and elders are at the highest risk of attack

• Tied or enclosed petsare the mostcommon victims

Photo: USDA APHIS PPQ Archives, USDA APHIS Photo: USDA APHIS PPQ Archives, USDA APHIS http://www.ipmimages.orghttp://www.ipmimages.org

How to avoid or prepare for an attack:

• Walk away and stay away if you see a swarm/nest or unusual bee activity.

• Teach children to use caution and respect all bees and other insects.

• Obtain bee sting treatment kits.• If a nest is found, contact your local

cooperative extension service or State Department of Agriculture immediately.

(Advice from the Florida Department of Agriculture, D.P.I.)

Photo: Carl Dennis, Auburn Universityhttp://www.insectimages.org

If an attack occurs:• Run away in a straight line• Running through tall grass or small trees will

help reduce the attack• DO NOT STAND AND SWAT AT BEES! RUN!• Cover your face and eyes• Get into a car, house, or other shelter and stay

there• Do not jump into water. The bees will wait for

you at the surface!• If stung, remove stinger quickly by scraping it

out, not pulling it out• If breathing is affected, seek medical attention

immediately(Advice from the Florida Department of Agriculture,

D.P.I.)

Control• Create a safe environment

– Eliminate possible nesting sites by removing any unnecessary “junk” from the area

– Close off gaps in structures/trees that are more than 1/8”

– Inspect property/structures regularly for unusual bee activity

• If a nest is found, immediately contact your local cooperative extension service or state department of agriculture for a list of pest control operators or advice.

Trap used for monitoring feral swarms of Africanized honey bees.

Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service http://www.insectimages.org

Questions Regarding Africanized Honeybees?

• Contact your state’s cooperative extension service http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/partners/state_partners.html

• Contact your state department of agriculture: http://nationalplantboard.org/member/index.htm

Additional InformationWebsites:• Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of

Plant Industry. African Honey Bee. http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/plantinsp/ahb.html

• Honey Bee Research and Information at the University of California, Riverside http://bees.ucr.edu/index.html

• USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center. Africanized honey bees. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059

• USDA National Invasive Species Information Center. Africanized honey bees. http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/afrhonbee.shtml

• Global Invasive Species Database. Apis mellifera scutellata. http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=325&fr=1&sts=

Books:• Caron, D. M. 2001. Africanized Honey Bees in the

Americas. The A. I. Root Co., Medina, Ohio.• Graham, J. M., ed. 1992. The Hive and the Honey

Bee. Dadant & Sons, Hamilton, Illinois.• Winston, M. L. 1987. The Biology of the Honey

Bee. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Additional Information

Photo: Carl Dennis, Auburn Universityhttp://www.insectimages.org

AcknowledgmentsEditorial Review

• Jerry Hayes, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Chief of Apiary Inspection

• Dr. Dale Pollet, Professor of Entomology, Louisiana State University

Authors• Amanda M. Ellis, ellisam@ufl.edu,

University of Florida, SPDN

• James D. Ellis, Ph.D., jdellis@ufl.edu

Assistant Professor, University of Florida

• Amanda C. Hodges, Ph.D., achodges@ufl.edu

SPDN Assistant Director, University of Florida

Publication Details• This publication can be used for non-profit,

educational use only purposes. Photographers retain copyright to photographs or other images contained in this publication as cited. This material was developed as a topic-based training module for NPDN First Detector Training. Authors and the website should be properly cited. Images or photographs should also be properly cited and credited to the original source.

• Publication Number: 0002• Publication Date: October 2006