Transcript

KILLER BEESKILLER BEESThe The

AfricanizedAfricanizedHoneybeeHoneybee

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES

Africanized Honey Africanized Honey Bees -- also called Bees -- also called Africanized bees or Africanized bees or killer bees -- are killer bees -- are descendantsdescendants of of southern African bees southern African bees imported in 1956 by imported in 1956 by Brazilian scientists Brazilian scientists attempting to breed a attempting to breed a honey bee better honey bee better adaptedadapted to the South to the South American tropics.American tropics.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES

When some of these When some of these bees escaped bees escaped quarantinequarantine in 1957, in 1957, they began breeding they began breeding with local Brazilian with local Brazilian honey bees, quickly honey bees, quickly multiplying and multiplying and extended their range extended their range throughout South and throughout South and Central America at a Central America at a rate greater than 200 rate greater than 200 miles per year. miles per year.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES

Africanized bees Africanized bees acquired the name acquired the name killer bees because killer bees because they will viciously they will viciously attack people and attack people and animals who animals who unwittinglyunwittingly stray stray into their territory, into their territory, often resulting in often resulting in serious injury or serious injury or death.death.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES Though their venom is Though their venom is

no more potent than no more potent than native honey bees, native honey bees, Africanized bees attack Africanized bees attack in far greater numbers in far greater numbers and pursue perceived and pursue perceived enemies for greater enemies for greater distances. Once distances. Once disturbed, colonies may disturbed, colonies may remain remain agitatedagitated for 24 for 24 hours, attacking people hours, attacking people and animals within a and animals within a range of a quarter mile range of a quarter mile from the hive.from the hive.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES Africanized bees Africanized bees proliferateproliferate because because they are not as picky in they are not as picky in their choice of nests their choice of nests than native bees, using than native bees, using a variety of natural and a variety of natural and man-made objects , man-made objects , including hollow trees, including hollow trees, walls, porches, sheds, walls, porches, sheds, attics, utility boxes, attics, utility boxes, garbage containers garbage containers and abandoned and abandoned vehicles. They also vehicles. They also tend to swarm more tend to swarm more often than other honey often than other honey bees.bees.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES The first swarm of The first swarm of

Africanized bees was Africanized bees was detected in the U.S. in detected in the U.S. in October, 1990 when they October, 1990 when they were captured in a baited were captured in a baited trap at the border town of trap at the border town of Hidalgo, Texas. Their Hidalgo, Texas. Their colonies were first reported colonies were first reported in Arizona and New Mexico in Arizona and New Mexico in 1993 and in California in in 1993 and in California in October, 1994. Within a October, 1994. Within a year, more than 8,000 year, more than 8,000 square miles of Imperial, square miles of Imperial, Riverside and northeastern Riverside and northeastern San Diego counties were San Diego counties were declared officially colonized declared officially colonized by Africanized Bees.by Africanized Bees.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES In May of 1991, In May of 1991,

Jesus Diaz became Jesus Diaz became the first person to the first person to be attacked by AHB be attacked by AHB in the U.S. while in the U.S. while mowing a lawn in mowing a lawn in the border city of the border city of Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville, Texas. Diaz suffered 18 Diaz suffered 18 stings and was stings and was treated at a local treated at a local hospital.hospital.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES On July 15, 1993, 82-On July 15, 1993, 82-

year-old Lino Lopez year-old Lino Lopez became the first person became the first person to die in the U.S. from to die in the U.S. from Africanized honey bee Africanized honey bee stings. He was stung stings. He was stung more than 40 times more than 40 times while trying to remove while trying to remove a colony from a wall in a colony from a wall in an abandoned building an abandoned building on his ranch near on his ranch near Harlingen, Texas.Harlingen, Texas.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES Arizona's first human Arizona's first human

fatality from Africanized fatality from Africanized Bees occurred in Bees occurred in October, 1993 when 88-October, 1993 when 88-year-old Apache Junction year-old Apache Junction woman disturbed a large woman disturbed a large Africanized honey bee Africanized honey bee colony in an abandoned colony in an abandoned building on her property building on her property and was stung and was stung numerous times.numerous times.

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES Although such fatalities are Although such fatalities are

alarming, Africanized Bees alarming, Africanized Bees probably present the probably present the greatest danger in the U.S. greatest danger in the U.S. to American beekeeping and to American beekeeping and American agriculture in American agriculture in general. AHBs often enter general. AHBs often enter European colonies to mingle European colonies to mingle and mate with them. Such and mate with them. Such mating results in more mating results in more hybrid bees having African hybrid bees having African genes and tendencies genes and tendencies dominating over European dominating over European ones. An entire colony may ones. An entire colony may suddenly take on aggressive suddenly take on aggressive and short-tempered and short-tempered behavior behavior

KILLER BEE FACTSKILLER BEE FACTS

Are slightly smaller Are slightly smaller than the European than the European honey bee, but only an honey bee, but only an expert can tell them expert can tell them apart apart

Defend their hive more Defend their hive more rapidly than the rapidly than the European honey bee European honey bee

Usually sting in greater Usually sting in greater numbers numbers

Are less selective Are less selective about where they nest about where they nest

KILLER BEESKILLER BEES Swarm more often than Swarm more often than

European honey bees European honey bees Do not have stronger Do not have stronger

venom than the venom than the European honey bee European honey bee

Each bee can only Each bee can only sting one time – sting one time – females die after females die after stinging stinging

Eat nectar and pollen Eat nectar and pollen and make honey and make honey

Are not native to the Are not native to the U.S.; they came from U.S.; they came from AfricaAfrica

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