What Are "Killer Bees"?

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This over dramatic description hit the headlines due to events in America. Research work carried out by the Brazilian government in the 1950’s, trying to improve the local strain of honeybee by cross breeding with African bees went wrong. The African bee was known to be a good producer of honey, however had a reputation for over defensive behavior when protecting it’s colony. The experiment was supposed to contain the African bees and prevent them from spreading however some swarms did escape and thrived in the forests of Brazil. The resultant cross strain produced an aggressive bee compared with the native bee and has gradually spread outside of Brazil and through other South American countries. This ‘Africanized’ strain can now be found in southern states of the USA producing the media hype of ‘Killer Bees’. Although an individual bee has the same sting and venom as a British bee, they are much more easily induced to sting and chase people.

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