Learn about Africanized honey bees and how to protect yourself against stinging insects.

A Brief History

Honey bees brought to the U.S. in the 1600s by European settlers soon became one of the most economically beneficial insects. Their gentle nature made them easy to manage.

In 1956, researchers in Brazil imported honey bees from Africa in an attempt to create a honey bee that would be better suited to tropical conditions. The African honey bees were bred with European honey bees. Researchers expected that when mated with European honey bees, the African honey bees would lose their more defensive nature. However, that was not the case, and in 1957, 26 African queen bees escaped from a breeding program in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The hybrid Africanized honey bees became established and expanded their range through South and Central America. The first report of Africanized honey bees in the United States was made in Hidalgo, Texas, in 1990. Since then, they have been found throughout the southern U.S.

Africanized Vs. European Honey Bees

It is impossible to visually distinguish Africanized honey bees from European honey bees. Only through genetic testing can the species be verified.

• Africanized honey bees are more defensive — they defend their nests with less provocation, in greater numbers and for longer distances.
• Africanized honey bees swarm as many as 16 times per year, whereas European honey bees swarm only once or twice a year. Swarming is the reproductive behavior that occurs when bees are looking for a new nest site.
• Africanized honey bees are not selective of nesting sites — they will quickly inhabit empty spaces, holes or cavities. European honey bees are more selective and prefer drier sites 3 or 4 feet above ground.