Killer Bees: The Africanized Honey Bee in the Americas

Abstract

Since their introduction into southern Brazil in the 1950s, Africanized--or "killer"--Bees have acquired a reputation among the general public that is straight out of a science fiction movie. As colonies of these feisty bees have gradually moved north, expanding their range into Mexico and, most recently, Texas, lurid reports of their sometimes fatal stinging behavior and aggressive swarming have commanded media attention and alarmed local communities. In Killer Bees. I. Biology and Habits. 1. The Creation of a Pop Insect. 2. Arrival of the Bees. 3. Temperate and Tropical Honey Bees. 4. Seasonal Patterns, Swarming, and Absconding. 5. Activities outside the Nest. 6. The Process of Africanization -- II. Impact and Control. 7. The Latin American Experience. 8. Prognosis for North America. 9. Coping with the Bees.