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First, the so-called 'killer bee' -- more properly called the Africanized honey bee -- is not the result of an experiment that went wrong.

The European honey bee is not at its best in tropical conditions and during the 1950s research was started to find a hybrid that would be better suited to the heat. In 1957, in south-east Brazil, 26 Tanzanian honey bee queens (apis mellifera scutellata) accidentally escaped from a research project and mated with local drones. Their offspring have now spread as far as the southern United States and south to the edge of tropical South America. They do not tolerate cold weather well, and this will probably be the limiting factor to further spread.

The name 'killer bee' was invented by sensationalist media because they are more defensive than the European honey bee and are more liable to sting. However a sting from an individual Africanized bee is no worse than a sting from a European bee.

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16y ago

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Related Questions

How did killer bees get here?

Africanized honey bees (also known as killer bees) were brought to Brazil in the 1950s as an experiment to improve honey production. Some of the bees eventually escaped and interbred with local honey bees, leading to the establishment of Africanized honey bees in the Americas.


How did the killer bee get its name?

Killer bees are called killer bees because they kill people and other mammals.


What are killer bees?

aggressive honey bees


What is the collective noun for a killer of bees?

The leading killer of bees is diseases; the collective noun is a catalog of diseases.The next important killer of bees is mites; the collective noun is an infestation of mites.Another killer of bees is wasps; the collective noun is a colony of wasps, or a nest of wasps.


Are killer bee's an invasive species?

Yes, Africanized "killer" bees are considered an invasive species in the Americas. They were introduced unintentionally in Brazil in the 1950s and have since spread throughout the continent, displacing native bee populations and causing issues in ecosystems and for beekeepers.


Do killer bees have spots?

no


What can killer bees do to you?

They can kill you!


Do killre bees kill other killer bees?

yes


When was Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees created?

Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees was created in 2003.


What is the population of killer bees in the us?

The population of killer bees in the United States is in the upper millions. In June, 2013, 100,000 killer bees invaded a vacant home in Houston, Texas. Killer bees are expanding across the US at an alarming rate each year.


Are killer bees more poisonous than regular bees?

yes


Do killer bees make as much honey as other bees?

yes