Killer Bees?

Question

When I was about 9 or 10 years old, my dad said when I was 18, killer bees would invade my state. I'm 16 now, and I've been wondering....is he lying or what? Cause I haven't heard of this on the news or anything. I personally think he's lying. Haha!

Answer 1

As of 2002, Africanized honeybees had spread from Brazil south to northern Argentina and north to South and Central America, Trinidad (West Indies), México, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and southern California. Their expansion stopped for a time at eastern Texas, possibly due to the large number of European-bee beekeepers in the area. However, discoveries of the bees in southern Louisiana indicate this species of bee has penetrated this barrier, or has come as a swarm aboard a ship. In June 2005, it was discovered that the bees had penetrated the border of Texas and had spread into Southwest Arkansas. In the summer of 2005, Africanized bees were discovered in six counties of Florida where they had apparently been present long enough to spread widely without detection.

At their peak rate of expansion, they spread north at a rate of almost two kilometers (about one mile) a day. In tropical climates they compete effectively against European bees. There have been many opportunities to slow the spread by introducing non-defensive relatives, particularly at the Isthmus of Panama, but various national and international agricultural departments proved themselves incapable of action, and remain so to this day.

Curiously, their arrival in Central America is a threat to the ancient art of keeping stingless bees in log gums. The honey productivity of the Africanized bees far exceeds the productivity of the native stingless bees, and economic pressures forces beekeepers to switch.

Africanized honeybees have generally been considered as an invasive species in many regions.

Recent evidence suggests that Africanized honeybees may be able to endure cold winters. They have been seen as far as Kansas City, Missouri. More commonly found in the south, in Mexico. There are now stable geographic zones in which either Africanized bees dominate, a mix of Africanized and European bees is present, or only non-Africanized bees are found (as in southern South America). As the Africanized honeybee migrates further north through Mexico, colonies are interbreeding with European honeybees. This appears to be resulting in a dilution of the genetic contribution of the African stock and a gradual reduction of their aggressive behaviors. Thus Africanized bees are expected to be a hazard mostly in the Southern States of the United States. In California they have been seen on the Pacific Coast as far north as Santa Barbara and are expected to eventually occupy the San Francisco Bay Area.[citation needed] Within the Central Valley in 2004, Africanized bees were involved in an attack in Modesto, having previously (2003) been seen in Bakersfield. The cold-weather limits of the Africanized bee have driven professional bee breeders from Southern California into the harsher wintering locales of the northern Sierra Nevada (US) and southern Cascade range. This is a more difficult area in which to prepare bees for early pollination placement, such as is required for the production of almonds. The reduced available winter forage in northern California means that bees must be fed for early spring buildup.

Answer 2

The killer bees are a mix of honey bee and African bee. Why would they be in Japan? the present subject we've right here with killer bees became a consequence of a few getting unfastened on our continent after a beekeeper had mixed the two, the queen escaped.

Answer 3

Killer Bees (African Honey Bees) are actually in several southern U.S. states including California, Arizona, and Texas.

They have gotten a bad rap to some degree looking at the bad B movies out there, but they are dangerous nonetheless. They are agitated by intruders, loud noises, and arguably bright colors as they will defend their hive fervently.

Answer 4

Well what state do you live in??? Killer Bee's are actually moving slowly northward I personally think your dad probably knows what he's talking about. Haha!....:)

Answer 5

my mom told me the same thing but im only 13...so idk