Africanized Bee

The Africanized honeybee, a.k.a. "the killer bee" as dubbed by the media, is in fact a honeybee with a highly disturbed personality! Due to its origins and environment in Africa, the Africanized bee is much more aggressive, hostile, and will attack in large numbers when defending its hive or territory. Nevertheless, it is still a honeybee. Even a European bee will defend its territory and its hive, if threatened, by chasing and stinging the intruder. However, the Africanized bee will defend its hive in larger numbers, chasing you farther with less provocation and more aggression. Orange County has been officially declared as being colonized by the Africanized honeybees; therefore, all bees and bee colonies should be treated as if they are Africanized honeybees. For more information on the general behavior of bees, please read the information below on the European honeybee. The Africanized bee will have the same behavior, only in a much more hostile and aggressive manner. They also tend to swarm more often.

The most common misconception about the Africanized bee is that it is somehow larger or different looking than European bee. To the naked eye, the Africanized bee looks just like the European bee. The minute differences between the two are only visible through a microscope.  

For more information about honeybees, which includes the Africanized Bee, the European Bee, and other honeybees, click on the 'European Honeybee' link at the top.

The Bee Man
Phone (949) 455-0123
Fax (949) 455-9713
Email: b@beemanbuzz.com