Africanized bees (Killer bees)
Crossbred Species
Africanized bees are a species of bees that are African honey bees crossed with European honey bees. However these Africanized honey bees are far fiercer in their character and behavior than European bees.
Highly Defensive
One fierce trait they posses are that they are highly defensive and so get provoked very easily. If they sense a threat they will attack in swarms much larger than European bees. They will pursue the victims over great distances from the hive; almost a quarter of a mile.
Assassin Bees
Small swarms of Africanized honey bees have the ability to take over European honey bee hives, especially if the queen of that unfortunate hive is weak; replacing the European Queen Bee with their own. This trait has given them the name “killer bees”. Their habit of seizing other hives has earned them the name “assassin bees” in Brazil.
Africanized Bee Attacks
Even though they are more aggressive in nature, their sting has the same level of poison as that of a European bee, but since they attack in larger swarms the number of deaths caused by killer bee stings are far greater. However an allergy from any bee sting can kill a person if untreated.
YouTube video playlist
The YouTube video playlist below contains videos about Africanized bees. Details of the videos featured are underneath.
The Playlist:
- Killer Bees! by NationalGeographic
- Killer bees – don’t provoke an attack – Ultimate Killers – BBC wildlife
Africanized bees are featured in the following books:
25 Beastly Bugs and Insects
25 Most Poisonous Animals in the World!
