Africanized bees are a hybrid honey bee known for their highly defensive nature. Their tendency to vigorously defend colonies distinguishes them from European counterparts. Understanding their distribution and characteristics is helpful for public awareness and safety. This article provides information on their presence and how to react if an encounter occurs.
Current Geographic Presence
Africanized bees have established a presence in warmer climates of the Americas. In the United States, as of 2023, these bees are found in at least 13 states. Their spread extends across the southwestern U.S., including California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
Beyond the Southwest, Africanized bees have also spread eastward into parts of the Gulf Coast states. Florida has a widespread presence, particularly in central and southern counties. They have also been confirmed in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This expansion slowed significantly after their initial rapid movement through Central America and into the U.S. in the 1990s.
Tracking their territory expansion and identifying isolated colonies helps monitor their presence. For instance, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services uses a morphometric test called FABIS (Fast African Bee Identification System) to identify colonies. The bees’ movement is influenced by climate, with warmer temperatures allowing for further northward migration, especially in the western half of the country.
Distinguishing Africanized Bees
Africanized bees originated from an accidental release of African honey bee queens in Brazil in 1956, hybridizing with existing European honey bees. This resulted in a bee that retained many African traits, including highly defensive behavior. While their venom is no more potent than a European honey bee’s, Africanized bees respond to disturbances by sending out a much larger number of bees, sometimes hundreds, and pursuing threats over longer distances, up to a quarter mile.
The physical appearance of Africanized bees is nearly identical to European honey bees, though they are about 10% smaller. This size difference is not discernible to the naked eye, making visual identification difficult for an untrained individual. Misconceptions often label them as “killer bees” due to sensationalized media portrayals, but they do not actively hunt humans. Their aggression is a defensive response to perceived threats to their colony.
Africanized bees also exhibit differences in nesting and swarming behaviors. They are less particular about nest sites, often utilizing smaller cavities like water meter boxes or holes in the ground, increasing the likelihood of human encounters. They swarm more frequently than European bees, sometimes 6 to 12 times a year, compared to once a year for European bees. This allows them to establish new colonies and expand their range more rapidly.
Safety and Encounter Guidelines
Avoiding encounters with Africanized bees is the primary safety measure. Be aware of surroundings, especially in areas where these bees are present. Look for signs of bee activity, such as bees entering and exiting an opening in a wall, tree, or the ground, or listen for the hum of an active colony. Disturbing potential nest sites, like old tires, empty containers, or lumber piles, should be done with caution.
If an encounter with Africanized bees occurs, the most important action is to move away quickly. Do not swat at the bees or make sudden movements, as this can provoke them further. Running in a straight line to the nearest enclosed shelter, such as a house or car with windows closed, is recommended. Bees may follow up to a quarter mile, so continue running until safely inside a structure.
Should stings occur, remove stingers by scraping them out with a fingernail or credit card, rather than pinching them, to avoid squeezing more venom into the skin. While the venom itself is not more potent than other honey bees, the danger comes from the sheer number of stings that can be inflicted. For mass stinging incidents or if an allergic reaction is suspected, seek immediate medical attention or call emergency services. For established colonies on private property, contacting a professional pest control service specializing in bee removal is the safest approach.