You may have heard of Africanized honey bees, sometimes referred to as killer bees. Luckily, the Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky areas don’t currently have these bees. Still, it’s good to know information about them in case you ever encounter them in other states. Today in the Animal Remover blog, we’ll discuss Africanized honey bees, how they’re different from regular bees, and clear up some misconceptions about them. Remember to contact Animal Remover for any honey bee removal services you may need.
Related Post: Identifying Species of Bees and Honey Bee Removal
What Are They?
Africanized honey bees are actually hybrids of African bees and the honey bees native to North America. In the 1950s, a honey bee breeding program was started in Brazil. The goal of the breeding was to combine the warm weather adaptability of African bees with the honey-producing European bees. Some of these hybrids escaped into the wild and rapidly spread throughout South America and Central America and eventually to the Southern states of North America. The Africanized honey bee is an extremely invasive species and has the potential to continue to spread.
How Are They Different than Normal Honey Bees?
Other than their adaptability to warm-weather climates, the Africanized honey bee has several traits that differentiate it from typical honey bees. The most notable being its aggressive nature. Bees will typically only attack when you provoke them or their hive, but Africanized honey bees will follow and attack if you just get near their hive. Some bees have been reported to attack within a quarter-mile radius of their hive. They also tend to attack in larger numbers, and they have fewer qualms about stinging. Their aggressive nature and their tendency to attack in large numbers helped them acquire their “killer” moniker. It’s a misconception that these bees have more venom than typical bees. They have the same amount, it’s just the fact that they attack in large numbers that makes them so dangerous.
How Do I Know if Bees are Africanized?
As we mentioned at the beginning of the blog, if you’re in Animal Remover’s area of service, you don’t need to worry about honey bees being Africanized. They haven’t spread to this area. That being said, there’s always a very small chance, so it’s best not to take any risks. Contacting a professional honey bee removal service ensures you and the bees are safe. It’s also impossible to tell if a bee is Africanized unless it’s looked at by an expert in a lab. If a bee was Africanized, there would be no way for you to tell. Again, it’s always a good idea to trust honey bee removal to the professionals.
Related Post: Honey Bee Removal: Understanding Honey Bee Behavior
Contact the Honey Bee Removal Experts
Animal Remover is happy to offer honey bee removal services to the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana areas. If you’re in need of honey bee removal, contact us today. We also offer a variety of other nuisance animal services. Give us a call or view our website for more information.
