File: <africanhybridizedhoneybees.htm> Pooled References GENERAL
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African Hybridized Honeybees Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier
(Hymenoptera, Apidae) |
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Africanized honey bees are a hybrid
between European and African bee subspecies which were inadvertently released
in Brazil in the 1950s. They have
spread to the south as far as northern Argentina and to the north into the
United States, as well as throughout much of South and Central America. They
entered Texas in 1990, Arizona and New Mexico in 1993, and California in
1994. European bees have long been
established in much of the United States, including California. Following colonization, unmanaged bee
populations are replaced or mixed with Africanized Honey Bee. African honeybees, or "killer bees" [see
<killer.htm>]
as they frequently are called, have invaded North America from South America through
Mexico. Their first appearance in south Texas in spring of 1991 was
accompanied by an increase in attacks on humans, and they have since become
widespread in California and Arizona by 1999 (Legner, unpub. data; Taylor
1985). A public health problem may be
expected within a year of the invasion as people become aware of these bees
and succumb to their attacks. However, studies on honeybee behavior at higher
latitudes in South America suggest that the public health threat is not as
great as these bees' notoriety (Taylor 1985). Nevertheless, mosquito abatement districts in California will
undoubtedly be called upon for information about how to deal with the bees
and perhaps to exterminate feral colonies.
Most of the characteristics that distinguish African bees from
European bees, such as aggressiveness, early-day mating times, degrees of
pollen and honey hoarding, etc. are thought to be quantitative and,
therefore, under the control of polygenic systems. Unfortunately, because of difficulties inherent in studying
quantitative traits in honeybees, knowledge of this phase of their genetics
is scant. In fact Taylor (1985)
acknowledge that there is an overall limited understanding of honeybee
genetics. Thus, we really cannot
predict what will occur following hybridization of African and European races
because practically all opinions are derived from their behavior in South
America (Kerr et al. 1982, McDonnell 1984, Rinderer et al. 1982, 1984; Taylor
1985). Perhaps some indications can be obtained from other groups of
Hymenoptera.
Immigration of africanized honey bee results in a greater density of
highly defensive bee colonies.
Africanized honey bee respond to activity near their colonies with increased
numbers of stinging bees over much greater distances. This can make them life-threatening,
especially to people allergic to stings or with limited capacity to escape
(the young, old and handicapped), and to confined livestock or pets. In each country into which they have
migrated, they have killed humans and animals. Beekeeping is also disrupted by africanized honey bees, which
are more difficult to manage and transport.
Maintaining colonies of European bees in areas with africanized honey
bees is the best defense, but to do so beekeepers face greater expense, more
difficulty finding sites for bees because of public fear, and greater
liability concerns. The
United States has had effective public education and control practices, and
few people have been or will be killed.
If the country were fully colonized by africanized honey bees, bee and
queen sales ($11 million) would end or be sharply reduced, resulting in
reduced numbers of beekeepers and colonies which would lower honey and wax
production ($42 million) as well as pollination rental income ($122
million). More significantly, the
annual value added by honey bee pollination of agricultural crops in
California in 2005 exceeded $3.9 billion; reductions in managed bee colonies
have resulted in substantially increased costs and decreased yields in many
fruit, nut, vegetable, and seed crops.
Publicity about "killer bees" may also have minor impacts on
tourism and outdoor activities. As of
2008 Africanized bees had colonized all southern California counties, and the
southern Central Valley. Though
Africanized Honey Bee spread has slowed, in time, their range may expand to
much of coastal California and the Central Valley. These bees can be expected
to thrive in urban, agricultural, and some recreational areas. REFERENCES: Caron, D. M. 2001.
Africanized Honey bees in the Americas. The A. I. Root Co., Medina, Ohio, USA. 228 pp. Hepburn, H. R. & S. E.
Radloff. 1998. Honeybees of Africa. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany. 370 pp. Kern, W. H. 2007. Keeping Africanized bees out of wildlife
nest boxes. EDIS. (21 November 2012). Legner, E. F.
1990. Might wary genes
attenuate Africanized honeybees?
Proc. Calif. Mosq. & Vector Contr. Assoc., Inc. 57: 106-109. O'Malley, M. K., J. D. Ellis & C.
M. Z Nalen. 2009. Swarm trapping
for pest control operators.
EDIS. (23 November 2009) O'Malley, M. K., J. D. Ellis & C.
M. Z Nalen. 2009. Differences
between European and African honey bees.
EDIS 23 November 2009. O'Malley, M. K., J. D. Ellis & C.
M. Z Nalen. 2007a. Bee-proofing for
Florida citizens. EDIS 17 January 2008. O'Malley, M. K., J. D. Ellis & C.
M. Z Nalen. 2007b. What to do about
African honey bees: A consumer guide.
EDIS 17 January 2008. O'Malley, M. K., J. D. Ellis & C.
M. Z Nalen. 2007c. African honey
bee information for school administrators.
EDIS 17 January 2008. O'Malley. M. K. & J. D.
Ellis. 2008. Unif. of Florida Honey Bee Research and
Extension Lab (14 January 2008). Winston, M. L.. 1992.
Killer Bees: The Africanized honey bee in the Americas. Harvard University Press, Cambridge,
Massachutes, USA. 176 pp. Winston, M. L., O. R.
Taylor & G. W. Otis. 1983. Some differences between temperature of
European and tropical African and South American honeybees. Bee World 64: 12-21. Wright, S. 1968.
Evolution and the genetics of populations. Vol. I. Genetic and
Biometric Foundations, Univ. of Chicago press, Chicago, Illinois. 469. p. |