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Africanized honey bees ( Killer Bees) are very dangerous. My son lives northwest of Houston, TX. His place has lots of big trees. He knew that one tree had a colony of honey bees. He did not know that the hive had become Africanized. He was attacked and stung over 50 times while brushhogging the lot. He would have died except for the screened in pool. He drove the tractor to the pool and entered. The bees could not get in. One cold day my son burned that tree; the honey burned for several days.
What are Africanized honey bees?
The major differences between Africanized and other Western bee types are:
Tends to swarm more frequently and go farther than other types of honey bees.
Is more likely to migrate as part of a seasonal response to lowered food supply.
Is more likely to "abscond"—the entire colony leaves the hive and relocates—in response to stress.
Has greater defensiveness when in a resting swarm, compared to other honey bee types.
Lives more often in ground cavities than the European types.
Guards the hive aggressively, with a larger alarm zone around the hive.
Has a higher proportion of "guard" bees within the hive.
Deploys in greater numbers for defense and pursues perceived threats over much longer distances from the hive.
Cannot survive extended periods of forage deprivation, preventing introduction into areas with harsh winters or extremely dry late summers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africanized_bee
Where are the Africanized bees?
This map shows the extent of Africanized bees in the US as reported by the states.
http://ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059&page=6
This Texas man was killed by Africanized honey bees while discing a field:
http://news.yahoo.com/texas-farmer-killed-swarm-bees-192602552.html
What are Africanized honey bees?
The major differences between Africanized and other Western bee types are:
Tends to swarm more frequently and go farther than other types of honey bees.
Is more likely to migrate as part of a seasonal response to lowered food supply.
Is more likely to "abscond"—the entire colony leaves the hive and relocates—in response to stress.
Has greater defensiveness when in a resting swarm, compared to other honey bee types.
Lives more often in ground cavities than the European types.
Guards the hive aggressively, with a larger alarm zone around the hive.
Has a higher proportion of "guard" bees within the hive.
Deploys in greater numbers for defense and pursues perceived threats over much longer distances from the hive.
Cannot survive extended periods of forage deprivation, preventing introduction into areas with harsh winters or extremely dry late summers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africanized_bee
Where are the Africanized bees?
This map shows the extent of Africanized bees in the US as reported by the states.
http://ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059&page=6
This Texas man was killed by Africanized honey bees while discing a field:
http://news.yahoo.com/texas-farmer-killed-swarm-bees-192602552.html