Comments on: Killer Bees Explained

By: Leni

Leni — Mon, 04 May 2020 05:08:27 +0000

I believe the first fatality due to africanized bees was actually reported in Texas in 1993. Another one in Arizona only a few months later.

By: PATRICK

PATRICK — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 13:17:41 +0000

My son and I are building a small apiary in Eastern TX. We are focused on catching feral swarms only and as a result all of our bees have some African genes. They are more defensive and they have a much shorter fuse, but, they are very prolific and productive. We believe that they are probably the future of beekeeping because of their hardiness and resistance to so many pests.
As far as the negatives go, you have to locate hives in areas that limit their exposure to people in order to deal with their territorial nature and you have to learn to limit “open box” time to deal with their defensiveness.
Those genetics are loose in North America and won’t be contained which means that eventually all BK will need to deal with them.

By: James

James — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 12:52:26 +0000

I have been the object of many killer bee attacks in the late. 80s while in the army in Panama. I too think they’re highly defensive, rather than aggressive. Modern people always seem to think that any animal who will stand up for themselves is being aggressive. However, it has been my experience that this label applies mostly to us humans. I do admit though that the word extremely should precede defensive.

By: Jill Eder

Jill Eder — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 12:34:55 +0000

Thanks for this article. I really enjoyed learning about the more aggressive bees. As a new beekeeper, I have a question…..my hive is going to be about 20 feet from an open garden structure where I’ll be working on plants and relaxing. Will it irritate my bees for us to be that close to the hive as we go about our business?
Thanks!

By: Steve Lende

Steve Lende — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:09:44 +0000

Africanized bees are being moved around the country, even to the north by migrant beekeepers. When a new queen supercedure mates in the south with and africanized drone. They build new hive colony and the migrant bee keepers bring the genetics north in summer. There again supercedures. There is no definitive proof that an africanized bee will die in the north winters, because they are hybrids too. The africanized defensive/aggressive trait will pass along. Hopefully the migrant beekeepers will recognize these aggressive bee hives and NOT transport them.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 22:25:50 +0000

This is ridiculous. Africanized honey bees is a germ based in false fears. Many beekeepers prefer to work with them and “dealing” with an aggressive hive means being happy they are healthy.

By: GLJones

GLJones — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 20:36:38 +0000

I was sorry to see the first sentence of your explanation regarding the Africanized bee. You mentioned they are “aggressive”, while this maybe accurate, for the non-beekeeper it maybe more of a service to say the Africanized bee is highly defensive. When disturbed, they will defend their home aggressively. It may be a small point, however beekeepers often have their hands full defending business/hobby. Thank j

By: Hannes Grobler

Hannes Grobler — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 06:21:37 +0000

I stay in South Africa
I do bee removals and a bit of honey production
We only know the African honey bee”killer bee”
They are aggressive but not as bad as the storys I hear
The hole colleny wil not attack you bat a big % of the worker force
And only 3 out of every 30 removals I get realy verry aggressive sworms
Thats why we do most removals at night

By: Eddy

Eddy — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 05:08:01 +0000

Interesting to know, whether the African bee is as succeptible to the diseases that are decimating the European bees.

By: Chris Wilkie

Chris Wilkie — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 19:28:32 +0000

Thanks for your article it helps to explain the non aggressive nature of bees generally which is so important for the public to understand. The world needs bees. Cheers. Chris